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THE 



HEALING OF THE NATIONS 



SECOND SERIES. 






/ 



CHARLES LINTON 




" There is a noble manhood which can mingle in every action of daily life and 
never be defiled. There is a guard which God doth place around the faithful 
stronger than steel and brighter than gold." 



PHILADELPHIA: 
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 

AND FOR SALE AT 
NO. 25 SOUTH SIXTH STREET 

1864. 



Ist 1 






% 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by 

CHARLES LINTON, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern 
District of Pennsylvania. 



2-^111 



1 



HENRY B. ASHMEAD, PRINTER, 

1102 and 1104 Sansom Street. 



PREFACE 



In writing The Healing of the Nations, Second 
Series, I have desired to help man onward toward per- 
fection. If any one hath found one good idea, let him 
cast it into the reservoir from which all may drink. If 
in the following pages any one shall receive strength in 
uprightness or encouragement in good action, then is all 
gained which I have desired. 

In our great weakness it is well to help one another. 
There is no rational man but who at times is blessed 
with ideas that could and would do his brother good. 
Thou hast one gift, I have one, we cannot change; let us 
each improve that which we have, and surely more will 
be added unto us. 

I believe but few men know their high privileges. 
But few really strive to cultivate and thus elevate those 
noble inward powers of the soul which alone can place 
man on solid ground. Truth is glorious, but far more 
elevated is that power which comprehends it. 

Truth is always clear and bright; it is the absence of 
truth which is dark and mysterious. There is a light 



IV PREFACE. 

in the spirit of man which will lead and guide into all 
truth. This light is what thou can know of thy Father's 
spirit. Whatever size thou art, it fills thee and is never 
wasted. 

That which fills one will not therefore fill another. 
In writing this book I feel satisfied only truth has been 
written, but knowing my very littleness, let all who 
read be on their guard and accept nothing in this or in 
anything else as truth which does not meet the witness 
for truth in their own soul. 

I have nothing to gain. My reward has been in the 
writing, therefore I have nothing to lose. 

Respectfully, 

The Author. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

LOVE AND WISDOM OPEN THE DOOR OF HEAVEN ALL ACTION THE 

RESULT OF DESIRING WILL, 9 

CHAPTER II. 

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY HEAVEN PROGRESSIVE HUMILITY 

GOD'S GOODNESS SELF-EVIDENT MAN'S NOBILITY SEEK RIGHTLY, 26 

CHAPTER III. 

AFFINITIES HOLY SELFISHNESS IN CONTRAST WITH EARTHLY 

SELF-DEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM, 40 

CHAPTER IV. 

CELESTIAL INDIVIDUALITY — MAN ABOVE ALL CIRCUMSTANCES SELF- 
RESPECT MAN CREATETH HIS OWN HEAVEN, .... 56 

CHAPTER V. 

CONTENTMENT AGAINST PROGRESSION LIFERS SHADOWS — DARKNESS 

THE CROSS — MAN, GOD'S PLEASURE GROUND, . . . 70 

CHAPTER VI. 

HAPPINESS, A VISION ETERNAL LIFE ETERNAL STRIFE— EYE THE 

LIGHT GOD THE CENTRAL IDEA, 82 

CHAPTER VII. 

SIMPLICITY OF TRUTH SPIRITUAL ECONOMY — SPIRITUAL FREEDOM 

TRUTHS TAUGHT BY THE EARTH, 92 



VI CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

IDEAL GODS, 101 

CHAPTER IX. 

HAPPINESS EMANATING FROM GOD's GOODNESS FALSE LIGHTS —HOW- 
TO DISTINGUISH THEM PRAYER LIGHT THE TEST OF ALL — 

FOLLOW NO SPIRIT LET GOD TEACH THEE, .... 109 



CHAPTER X. 

INSPIRED THOUGHT EFFECT OF INSPIRATION TRIALS, GOD's FUR- 
NACE, r 



CHAPTER XI 



123 



NOBILITY LOYE S FRUIT WANT STIMULATES PROGRESSION PROFESS 

NOT — DOUBTS PRESENT TRUTH ETERNAL STRENGTH, . . 135 

CHAPTER XII. 

IDENTITY PROOF OF IMMORTALITY — TRUST IN GOD LOVE REMOVETH 

FEAR DUTY PRAISETH GOD — GOODNESS NEVER RESTETH, . . 146 

CHAPTER XIII. 

IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL REJOICING, 156 

CHAPTER XIV. 

SHELLS OF WISDOM COMPARED WITH THE LIFE OF WISDOM SEEK 

DIVINE WISDOM FIRST THE SOUL, WISDOM'S STOREHOUSE, . 169 

CHAPTER XV. 

GOD IN MAN, LISTEN FOR HIS VOICE MAN MUST DO — HEAVEN 18 

HOLY HAPPINESS HEAVENLY LABOR, 177 

CHAPTER XVI. 

TRUTH GOD'S WORD — DEATH MAN'S DELIVERER, .... 187 

CHAPTER XVII. 

ETERNAL MISERY — HAPPINESS THE SOUL'S FREEDOM MARTYRDOM 

FOR TRUTH — JUSTICE, 198 



CONTENTS. Vli 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

FORGIVING OF SINS — CHILDHOOD FUTURE WISDOM — GOD'S LOVE, . 207 

CHAPTER XIX. 

NEARNESS OF HEAVEN GOD'S WISDOM AND MAN'S, AND THE WIS- 
DOM OF ANIMALS — WORSHIP — THE SOUL OF MAN GOD'S ONLY 
TEMPLE ON EARTH FEAR — SELF-DEFENSE, .... 217 

CHAPTER XX. 

DIVINE INSPIRATION THE SON OF GOD THE WORD OF GOD LABOR, 227 

CHAPTER XXI. 

GOD'S LIGHT THE COMFORTER REFLECTED LIGHT — DARKNESS, . . 238 

CHAPTER XXII. 

HEAVENLY LIFE — WEAKNESS OF SOCIETIES — FRUIT TREES MAN CAN- 
NOT MAKE ANYTHING SACRED — SUPERSTITION, .... 250 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

OUTWARD AND INWARD WORLDS — SPIRITUAL STRENGTH — FAITH AND 

WORK GOODNESS AND LIBERALITY — WORDS AND WORSHIP, . 262 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

WHAT IS GOD SPIRITUAL CAPACITY HEAVEN EVER PRESENT GOD's 

KINGDOM WITHIN — TIME PRESENT ETERNITY, .... 274 

CHAPTER XXV. 

GOD MAKETH NO PROFESSION — PURITY OF LANGUAGE — THE SPIRIT'S 

VOICE — CHARITT — TRANSGRESSION GOOD INTENTIONS, . . 286 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

GOOD IDEAS, THEIR EFFECT — GOD'S WORD — SWIFTNESS OF GOD'S WIT- 
NESS LIGHT — HYPOCRISY WARS — SLAVERY, .... 301 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

LIFE GOD'S WORD, MAN'S SAVIOUR — SPIRIT ABOVE THE LAW 

VALUE OF GOOD ACTIONS — PERFECT LOVE — THE COMFORTER — NO 
OUTWARD HOLINESS, . . .313 



Vlll CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

CONSCIENCE — BEAUTY OF HOLINESS — BREAD OF LIFE — WATERS OF 

LOVE — CONCEPTION OF THE WORD LIGHT, ETERNAL LIFE, . 325 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

DO GOOD — MAN A CREATOR — HAPPINESS IS FELT THY EVERY POWER 

PROGRESSIVE — REASON AND CONSCIENCE HUMILITY AND PRIDE 

JUSTICE AND MERCY, 337 

CHAPTER XXX. 

AND HERE IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, 348 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 



CHAPTER I 



LOVE AND WISDOM OPEN THE DOOR OF HEAVEN— ALL 
ACTION THE RESULT OF DESIRING WILL. 



God doth open unto the view of man's inner vision all that 
man can comprehend of heaven. 

He doth open the door of space, boundless, infinite ! and unto 
his child doth give command, " Reveal that which thou seest 
unto man." 

And the door which opens into space is man's desire. He 
that doth seek, doth in the seeking plant seed which brings forth 
the sought realities. 

A seeming void doth everywhere extend ! Mind doth not 
comprehend the dawn of the new life. Light unto the dark- 
ened vision is ever unfathomable. 

To those who have lived outwardly among effects, the inward 
world of cause must ever be mysterious, for the causing essences 
are far more refined than the effects their vision sought and 
easily found. 

They that train their vision to see in darkness, reduce its 
capability of receiving light. They, that become familiar with 
the light lose affinity for darkness. 

At the fountain of desire man doth commence his interminable 
existence. God did desire to give, ere he gave existence, unto 
his Creation. 

All that man doth enjoy or comprehend is the result of de- 
sire. He is a result of desiring will. His existence is governed 
2 



10 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

by essences that refine and re-refine until they become part and 
parcel of that holy Fountain wherein desire hath birth. 

Blessed are they who desire wisdom. Blessed are they who 
love. Blessed are they who do strive to glorify God for thereby 
are they opening a passage to his pure Presence. 

Blessed are they who his communion do constantly seek. 

Blessed are all mankind, for they have existence given of God. 

Love and wisdom do unite in all things. They emanate from 
God's presence. They are ever more pure than man can ever 
conceive. 

He who enters affinity unto love and wisdom hath the high- 
est path leading unto the highest heaven. Love and wisdom, 
which is the light of God's presence, ever desire to return unto 
their source. 

The spirit of man is in affinity unto the pure, causing harmo- 
nious essences, and is by them influenced homeward. 

They envelope him in their boundless sea of purity, and wash 
upon his rocky, earthly individuality, wearing it as the diamond 
is worn by the hardness of its own dust. 

The heavenw T ard-bound ever battle upon earth with earthly 
dust. The dust of the bodily desires ever cumbers the vision 
of the higher desires. 

All is very good. All is of God and surely God is good. 

All good unto man's view is comparative, for he is progressive. 

Progression is good, and all that it reveals is good so far as 
comprehended. 

God comprehendeth all. 

Man is an effect of boundless comprehension, and hence is 
limited more than his cause. 

That which is comprehended is good, and therefore that which 
is not understood seemeth the opposite of good. 

Man cannot know what is positively and unchangeably good, 
for he is himself a changeable being. 

And heaven is unto every man different. As on earth all 
view the same things differently, so in the heavens are all 
views of spirit different unto the individualities brought from 
the earth. 

They who do not seek cannot find. If a man hath no happi- 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 11 

ness on earth, he hath no affinity for happiness. If he have 
not loved on earth, he hath no affinity for love. 

Affinity doth make association. They who must have govern- 
ors on earth, must also have them in heaven. Heaven being 
used to express the future state of man's spirit after having left 
the earthly body. 

As the spirit of man is upon the earth, so it is when freed 
from the earth, for the earth is part of its endless pathway. 

He that is careless of his affinities and of the powers forming 
those affinities, is the inhabitant of just such a state in the 
future as results from such an individuality. 

He that strains his whole being with efforts to accomplish 
any given object, forms an affinity or moulds his powers into 
harmony with the object, and must in heaven take the fruits of 
the seed planted on earth. 

Every man doth create his own heaven out of powers of in- 
dividuality derived from earth. 

His future is fruit of present «eed unto all eternity. 

His present desire or aspiration doth limit its own extent in 
the future. 

When that which is now present is merged into the future 
and therein becometh present, then is found more seed to plant 
from which will grow larger futurity. 

Each man doth measure his own heaven. He useth God's 
instruments and they are very good, and all which they measure, 
yet if misunderstood of what value is the pleasure. 

There are chords of affinity formed by man on earth which 
are fastened in the regions he can comprehend. They are as 
rays of intelligence piercing space to the precise extent that he 
is capable of sending them, and' when the earthly chord is 
severed, these affinitive chords draw him unto the home that his 
spirit hath builded. 

Every individual man hath his boundless space, and the space 
to him is bounded by his own idea. 

No man can have a boundless view, for his vision is limited. 

When he builds an uncomprehended heaven, or attempts to, 
he is building or striving to build impenetrable fogs out of the 
shadows of simple truths. 



12 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

The seed planted in earth bringeth fruit. 
This is an eternal principle and is very good. 
The seed bringeth fruit after its kind. 

Man's spirit is planted in earth and bringeth fruits after its 
kind, an union of heaven and earth. 

He is an unit composed of the present and future. He liveth 
ever in the one and ever after the other is seeking. 

From this central point his aspirations arise unto that which 
is ever above, and must there remain to render him happy, his 
own highest idea of the Infinite. 

There are heavens for all, which all can understand, and 
wherein ever fall blessings without end. 

Wisdom doth fill all space, and space is ever found to be the 
pure abiding place of those journeying heavenward. 

In the present man doth tread the flowery fields of earth, in 
the future all seemeth dead now prized of greatest worth. 

The past is gone to the realms of night whereon it shone the 
olden light and now that light seems dark. 

It is thus forever. Man can never know the future save as 
brighter and still more bright shine upon him the beams of 
holy light. 

Man is ever comparative. 

The enjoyments of his nature cannot remain stationary, for 
the nature is not stationary. His heaven is progressive as his 
earth. 

In the first individual existence commenceth his endless 
career. As the earth recedes from him, higher and still larger 
his heaven becomes until indeed his existence seemeth unto him- 
self boundless. 

Earth is not the end, and should not be the aim of man. 

He hath powers, which, as the good seed planted in fertile 
earths, pierce downward and outward until a firm foundation 
is obtained, and then the beautiful shaft is reared reaching high 
in the eternal heavens. 

Oh man ! study thyself. Thou art the concentration of an 
eternal plan, whose creator is God and whose ultimate man. 

Thou art all, save God, concentered into one glowing point 
whence emanate rays reflected from the holy fountain. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 13 

Within thee centres that mighty will which unto all doth give 
command — "Peace, be still." 

God doth create the heavens and the earth and thou art in 
his image. God doth create his own heaven from within him- 
self, and so dost thou build within thee joy eternal, happiness 
supreme. 

God doth have an opposite in name which signifieth noth- 
ing ; thou dost have the same in the same proportion unto thy 
wisdom. 

As God doth have a field of labor, so dost thou. Thou dost 
in every thought and aspiration image thy idea of thy God. 

There are realms of peace for the peace loving, of joy for 
the joyful, of truth for the truthful, and of love for those who 
dwell in love. 

There are opposites of these blissful states as sought and 
found by those who labor to obtain them. 

There are rivers of light which ever in purest wisdom flow, 
yet they are ever unseen of those who do not seek them. 

There are lands where indwelling harmonies are embodied 
in countless varied forms, yet ever invisible to the spiritually 
blind. 

There are fulfillments most abundant for all the desires of 
of all the children of God. 

Oh, spirit child, guard thy desires, guard thy every step in 
the plane of life, lest thou dost enter low affinities and lose the 
higher enjoyments of which thou art capable. 

Thou art within the immediate presence of Deity, yet thou 
canst never fully comprehend this presence save as thou dost 
ever grow and ever strengthen in wisdom. 

Oh ! look around thee and in all things strive to view that 
pure wisdom which ever witnesseth divine presence. 

Heaven is not a distant place wherein resort myriads pure 
and holy children of God ; it is an inner state within the being 
of every spirit. The most pure is ever most inward. 

When thou dost seek the highest evidence of divine presence 
which ever gives holiest peace, turn within thee and search. 

Love and light are within thy being centered. They are 
witnesses in all around thee, and all unto which thou wouldst 
attain is by their blending beautified. 



14 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Within the presence of the Holy One thou dost stand, and 
behold thou art blind and cannot see ! 

Thou dost feel within thee the deep sense of humbleness of 
spirit, and yet dost feel that love which called thee into being. 
Thy wisdom is blind, but the love is ever hopeful. 

Trusting prayer hath opened unto thee this door which is 
guarded by holy love and wisdom, and thou hast entered again 
that celestial presence whence thou earnest, and whither thou 
didst tend whilst laden with that which made thee to be in thy 
Father's image, the I AM of earth. 

And heavenly states are states of inward happiness. Joy doth 
fill thy being with all that thou canst in the present know of 
heaven. 

An infant born in heaven ! A new door hath opened unto 
thee, and thou must learn of heaven to teach unto earth. 

God doth feed his babes with love, and as they strengthen 
wisdom is blended with the draught. 

He doth instil into their separate beings all from the begin- 
ning unto the ending, which is within Himself. 

As thou dost feed from his divine hand, as thou dost listen 
unto that sweet instructing voice, thou dost grow and strengthen . 

The wisest on earth are in Deity's presence ofttimes most 
blind. They have lost the substance in seeking the shadow. 

Thou hast put .thy trust in him and him alone and all is well. 
Thou hast sought wisdom, strength and purity, and behold thou 
shalt in them see the highest happiness. 

Thou dost stand in the presence of the highest One, and be- 
hold there openeth before thee a book and the beginning and 
ending is God. 

This is thy lesson, " Learn God." Seek him in wisdom, 
strength and purity, in the commencement and in the progress 
of all things. 

Thou hast left behind the earthly weights, and can with new 
strength enter upon that which must be an endless search in 
the depths of wisdom after purity. 

Wisdom must reveal itself in the simplest tones. Pure language 
must express the purities of celestial happiness. Thus would 
the wisdom, purity and strength of heaven be revealed unto the 
aspiring inhabitants of earth. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 15 

Around the holy One there circle essences which remain un- 
cornprehended unto his children. The causes of which he is 
cause, circle about him, as upon earth the labors of a man 
testify of his presence, giving food for all who come into the 
presence. 

Man's highest aspirings herein find rest. All that he can 
crave is herein given. Causes always precede and surpass 
in power their effects, and hence that which man can aspire 
unto must ever be less than that which gave him power to 
aspire. 

A central fountain doth quench thy thirst, and in the draught 
thou dost inhale wisdom which endureth. 

Thou dost herein seek to find and find to seek again. Thy 
being becometh transparently pure and dost emit the feelings 
received, even as thou dost receive them, save that the rays be- 
come shapen by thy being in the passage. 

He that doth receive from the divine fountain doth not re- 
tain that which is received, for the first drop of the celestial 
essence teacheth love. And inasmuch as God is highest, and 
doth give all things which all receive, therefore, is love a living, 
flowing channel, which can only flow from love and from which 
alone can happiness be received. 

He is happiest who hath most wisdom and doth give most 
freely of love. His heaven is largest who is most God-like. 

Thou canst drink of celestial wisdom, and of celestial love 
partake through pure affinities. Thou art only hindered by 
want of comprehension from knowing and doing all things. 

Since wisdom is eternal knowledge and love the source of 
eternal happiness, they are thy greatest staff. They eman- 
ate from God and are proven thus to emanate from their 
goodness. 

They fill and envelope all save their Creator. They are 
essences of purity subject to the control of will, which will in 
the first created them. 

In man celestial they become, in the lower planes, material ; 
or of such dense nature as to be surrounded and controlled by 
the will within him which is an effluence of the Will Divine. 

The nearer he doth approach his great Father, the simpler 



16 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

and more grand doth become the creation. He beholds the 
causes, ever subservient unto will, which will was in turn the 
effect of a beginning cause, circling outward and marks the 
precise plane whereon his own little will can effectively take 
command. 

Will doth create and measure space. It doth build the vast 
machinery of action. Man is a fruit and inheritor of this will. 

Love and wisdom do unite in will, and will doth unite love 
and wisdom in action. A spiral coil of essence encircleth all 
things, and is given motion and being by the same divine rays 
of intelligence which ever quicken as they shine upon all. 

Intelligence doth emband all the creation. All are resultant 
fruits of one almighty Spirit-power. 

All things save divinity do increase and multiply. That which 
is the immediate Divine cannot be defined, and cannot save by 
Deity be comprehended, and hence must always be excepted in 
instructions unto man. 

The fountain whence they emanate must in the fruits of the 
emanation receive recompense. 

As man doth have his whole heaven in God, so must God have 
his part of happiness in man, else there is no balance in the 
being created. 

Deity doth rejoice in the returning spiritual floods ever 
brought into his presence by the willing children of earth. He 
doth ever have the purest happiness of giving greatest gifts. 

All of man's actions and aspirations emanate from a gift of 
God which is existence. And as he ascendeth higher the more 
is the Giver and the gift glorified. The nearer the eternal debt 
of gratitude is paid, the more doth man discover yet to pay, for 
God giveth perfect gifts, and the nearer comprehended, the 
greater the gift appears. 

All things that man can understand emanate from this great 
first gift, and all that God can enjoy in connection with man is 
resulting fruit of his own gift. 

All that man can love is fruit of love which emanateth in 
holy purity from God ; yet the knowledge of the love and the 
capability of feeling its sweet influence are given man in his 
individuality. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 17 

Wisdom, strength and purity are controlling expressions from 
which as fountains of light divulge rays. They ever widen and 
increase in the countless effects around which they circle, bear- 
ing testimony that God is God of all wisdom, purity and power. 

God did create the heavens and the earth. And the earth 
and the heavens are witnesses unto his love and wisdom. 

Wisdom doth create, and unto wisdom a,ll is good and most 
wise, for wisdom cannot create folly. 

Love doth unite all wisdom, for love is wise as proven by its 
fruit, and from these fountains harmony floweth. 

Comprehension groweth out of harmony or affinity. God is 
comprehender of his creation, and to comprehend this creation 
the affinity for man is God. By affinity of effects they can be 
understood, but to know the creation man must have an affinity 
for God, for he alone is the highest cause. 

To know a thing its cause must be understood, which when 
known is found to be but an effect of still simpler cause, which, 
in turn, is again simplified, until at last the one cause is ac- 
knowledged which ever unto effect is unknown yet whom to 
seek is to be blessed. 

Man hath paused on his little globe and wondered at his 
wisdom ! and what doth wisdom reveal save ignorance of higher 
wisdom ? 

God alone hath perfect wisdom, and therefore all his children 
must be able only to obtain parts of this perfection. 

Wisdom and love have affinity for their fruits. God doth 
love all, and all in return do love God so far as they can com- 
prehend what God is. 

The inanimate creation or the denser effects are the outward 
heavens and earth. 

The spirit of man is most inward and most animate of all 
that he can understand. 

Every man measures his own God, and the God measured is 
the result of affinities builded. Thus every man is in a measure 
his own God, he doth on earth build himself in heaven. 

The " inner light" of man dwelleth above the earth. It forms 
a being as a link of light uniting earth and heaven. Man doth 
walk the earth a two fold being. Rays of light descend from 



18 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

his higher nature and quicken all that results from his 
outward. 

On earth he becometh a doer or comprehender, in heaven 
an enjoyer and communer of God. 

He sendeth higher and still higher his spiritual light in pro- 
portion as he striveth after the good and unknown one. 

This light is essencic. prayer. Prayer is the highest employ- 
ment of man's highest thought, and the inner-light of his 
existence results from this employment. 

Faithful employment of the light within doth expand it and 
send it still higher in the endless search after him, the cause. 
He that is unto his own highest ideas most faithful is most 
faithful unto God. The light within man doth reveal all unto 
him. 

As man expandeth, the light within him, which is his most 
interior understanding, his heaven or happiness, increases, fbr 
the higher becometh his affinity for the highest. 

Holy employment of man's being maketh affinity for holiness. 

Employment doth expand that employed. 

In the employment of love and wisdom they are passed, as it 
were, through the being of the employer, and expand that 
through which they pass, rendering it capable of receiving more 
abundantly. 

Man groweth in wisdom and in love as he groweth in purity 
and in strength. His spiritual strength is, as his bodily 
strength, increased by exercise. 

They that know in heaven do. If they know not they cannot 
do, and man can only know wisdom and love as he experienceth 
their operation within him. 

Love and wisdom are practical, and must by man be practised 
in earth as well as heaven to be enjoyed. 

They are never mystical. There is no need of learning how 
to love, for all study chills its tenderest feeling. Wisdom of the 
highest nature that man can receive, cometh in the answer to 
his highest prayer. 

Effect cannot reveal cause. Cause must ever reveal effects 
which it produceth. 

A dependence upon one supreme being bringeth happiness, 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 19 

and they that depend upon the highest giver receive the highest 
gifts. They that give most freely are most capable of receiv- 
ing freely of that which they give. 

He that giveth love receiveth love which is his return and 
reward for giving. He must ever receive more than he giveth 
for his capability progresseth. 

They that give receive such as they give, for therein is their 
affinity. No man can enter an high state Of happiness who con- 
tinually striveth to conceal that which he hath within him. 

God doth not conceal anything from those who can compre- 
hend his ways. They know most of God who know most of 
themselves, for they are his highest witnesses. 

There is nothing man can behold in heaven beyond his own 
light within, for that limits all unto him. 

Thus all men have different views of heaven even as they 
have of the simplest things on earth. 

Yet this inner light is in affinity with what seemeth perfec- 
tion unto the view of all. 

All strive after that which is above them in purity, all in the 
present seek a happier future and in the seeking find happi- 
ness, thus the present enjoyment is seeking purity. 

Man cannot be satisfied two times with the same draught. 
He cannot be in the precise position at two different times. He 
is ever changeable and hence requireth ever different food. 

The wisdom ever surrounding man is pure, yet is never in 
combination with the powers of his individuality likened in its 
results unto any other combination. 

The highest wisdom produceth the greatest number of effects 
from the simplest cause ; thus God produceth all things, but 
how he produceth them Himself alone can comprehend. 

The purest loveth all things and is exhibited in goodness 
unto all. All wants are supplied, from the eternal craving of 
man after godliness unto the parching flower by the wayside ; 
yea, the veriest ultimate of matter hath its want which the love 
of perfect goodness doth supply. 

The highest love in man is that which prompteth the holiest 
actions. 

The largest understanding of heaven cometh from the largest 



20 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

love. He that loveth all loveth God, and he that loveth God 
loveth all on earth and in heaven, in the present and future of 
his spiritual existence. 

Each man must stay in his own heaven. He hath no powers 
for entering another's heaven, save as their comprehensions 
mingle. 

Individuality is guarded by supreme wisdom. God doth 
blend all by his own pure love, but unto all is this love admin- 
istered differently, for the receiving individuals are different. 

Wisdom regulates all that it creates, and the regulation is 
implanted in the creation. 

Myriad celestial men may join in love, and by love be given 
holy joy, yet individuality is eternal, and hence eternally dif- 
ferent from all other individualities must ever remain. 

Thus man in heaven is, as on earth, his own, yet God's. 

There is no such thing as isolated existence. Man cannot 
aspire after isolation. He is a fruit of blending powers, and 
must be subject to those powers. Love is the celestial cement 
without which man could never, as an individual, exist. Love 
and wisdom unite in all that giveth him pleasure, yea, they 
form the substance of all of which he can partake, and they 
are beyond his control, hence he cannot become isolated. 

Could man gather within himself a will entirely indepen- 
dent of God, then he could will himself beyond the reach 
of God's will, but his will is but an emanation of the almighty 
will, and hence cannot, independent of its source, exist. 

There are grades of different comprehension, yet love and 
wisdom do fill and partly cause them all. 

The more interior man becometh, the higher wisdom and 
higher love can he receive, for, as hath been said, the higher 
become his affinities. 

Height and depth, as understood by man, are necessarily 
comparative, for he is progressive. The highest is the foun- 
tain of his comprehension ; the lowest is that which he hath 
least affinity for. 

He is eternally in the presence of Deity. The lowest compre- 
hension on earth hath its highest heaven to correspond. The 
highest comprehension in heaven hath its comparative opposite. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 21 

All things are but results of an harmonious will, and hence 
the more harmonious the will of man the more is it in affinity 
with the cause of all things. 

Man can as well be happy on earth as in heaven — in the 
present as in the future-present. 

Happiness is ever subject unto the will of man. 

They that will to be happy must willingly seek happiness. 

Seeking expands comprehension, and the expanding of this 
comprehension is happiness. 

Man, being progressive, must learn true wisdom from his 
own onward and upward course. Knowledge is his key, and 
ever doth this key open different doors and expose new beauties 
such as unto him are best adapted. 

It matters not where the celestial man exists, for he can 
only seek, and seeking, only find the purest happiness. He 
who would strive to limit enjoyment to any given sphere, or 
outward world, or plane of existence, merely revealeth himself 
and his own capability to enjoy. 

Happiness may be measured by compass and rule by those 
unto whom they are necessary, and they enjoy fully all they 
can measure. 

They that would find the greatest happiness must seek the 
greatest Giver, for all happiness is the gift of God, only sweet 
as comprehended. 

Man, in the most interior reflections of his most inward na- 
ture, is in the highest heaven. In this state all action is prayer 
acceptable and all prayer is holy action. Herein he becometh 
that being which he aspireth to be, for he aspireth after nought 
save his own highest idea of goodness. Herein the prayer after 
holiness is answered by the holiness sought — the seed becometh 
fruit. 

There is no rest, for rest to man would be eternal annihilation, 
and in the fruit partaken of new seeds are found, and by the 
praying, acting man, are in the regions of holy purity planted. 
They grow and are again sought, found, and partaken of as 
higher and holier fruits than ever before conceived. 

Man in the lowest is progressive, and therefore in the higher 
existence of his nature doth progress, for all is very good. 



22 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Man being progressive, the stopping of his progression 
would be the annihilation of his existence. No man can shun 
God's laws, for he is a result of the same will that created 
them, and exists in their midst. 

The interior light of man's most interior being is his foun- 
tain of wisdom, whereat all the lower faculties receive nourish- 
ment. 

This interior light hath access unto essences which it inhales, 
and, as a reservoir, retains the light of higher affinities, until, 
by action, the exhaustion of lower powers demands food, then 
the demand is supplied from the interior reservoir, which, in 
turn, is supplied from still higher, and thus unto all eternity is 
man's spirit progressive. 

Thus is seen the necessity of inward action, constant em- 
ployment of the higher powers of mind and spirit, in order to 
attract from higher shrines more brilliant rays of light. 

Thus it is proven that the faithful over the little require- 
ments merit the greater requirements, which ever bring the 
greater rewards. 

He that, by faithful exercise of his highest light, doth, as it 
were, exhaust his supply, doth in the exhausting receive holy 
pleasure, and in the draught attracted doth receive still holier 

And the highest heaven is found in seeking the light of 
purest love. Man cannot find that which he cannot compre- 
hend, for finding is a result of comprehension. 

The eternal thirst implanted in man after higher wisdom is 
his eternal motive power. Want doth move all things. 

Deity hath implanted want in all, which, when supplied, 
wanteth still the more. 

Man moveth in obedience to the desiring will whence his 
being emanated. His imperfect will wanteth the perfection of 
the will producing it, yet in the midst of this perfection is ever 
incapable of knowing its glory, because imperfect. 

Countless worlds with myriad beings peopled move within 
the desiring sea of God's almighty will. All action is the re- 
sult of desire. Every being in existence desireth, and all are 
branching fruits of the boundless cause, the will of God. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 23 

Surely God is beginning and ending, and they who would 
know this beginning and ending must desire the wisdom which 
God alone can give. 

He that desireth to do the will of God as within his highest 
light revealed is thus brought into affinity with that desire 
which was the cause of causing all things. 

Desire is active, he that desireth striveth to do. 

In the outward creation man striveth to do outwardly that 
which he desireth to have done. In the enduring inward 
existence his inward nature acteth as the outward in the 
outward. 

His will hath causes comprehended at command, even as 
though it were encased in a body, and did handle the effects 
thereof on earth. 

Were this not so, earthly employment would be man's high- 
est heaven, for, freed from earth, he could not desire the ac- 
complishment of his own happiness. 

As the spirit directs the accomplishment of outward objects 
by the use of outwards whilst in the body, so, when freed from 
the body, can it through high affinities direct causes, as it can 
comprehend them to the accomplishment of its higher desires. 

The higher causes man comprehends, the more effects can he 
easily understand. One cause produceth innumerable effects 
of which the cause is the only key. 

He that would know the simplest cause must never be satis- 
fied with effects. Man cannot be satisfied. He will ever desire, 
and blessed is he who desireth high and holy wisdom. 

Oh, how sublimely simple seem thy truths when compre- 
hended, oh God ! Yet, when misunderstood, the light is blind- 
ing, and man doth grope about in darkness caused by thy 
supreme, all-pervading Light ! 

Celestial presence unto man doth give holy beams from thy 
all-loving fountain, and behold he doth ever live in happiness, 
which ever surmounteth his highest feeling. 

Thou dost fill his inner shrine with incense which giveth joy 
more pure and ever more refined, as onward toward thee he 
cometh. 

Thou dost give communion unto him. Thou dost fill with 



24 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

food most sweet all that come unto thee. Thou art ever felt 
and only known as the holiest love and highest good. 

Great God ! Thou dost fill our being with light celestial, 
thus are we ever viewing in thine own beams thine own good- 
ness. Thou didst give us birth in earthly darkness, thou didst 
call us forth, and unto thee we come laden with fruits of seed 
thou gavest. 

Thou didst bid us live, and thus thou didst give all we can 
receive, and unto thee returning with our tapers brightly burn- 
ing, we hail thee of all the Highest. 

To dwell within thy love, oh Holy Father ! to drink in joys 
of love supreme, is all unto which man can aspire. To revel 
in thy wisdom, to see in thy light the great creating causes 
ebbing and outward flowing, to trace divinity everywhere, and 
in all things view goodness sending forth brilliant beams as 
witnesses of thine ; oh God ! what more than this can man de- 
sire, or what more couldst thou give. 

Yet, who can limit thee, thou endless Good ! who save thyself 
can know the sweetness of most holy food ! Are not all below 
thy purity ? Oh give as seemeth best in thy sight, for in re- 
ceiving we are blessed. 

To dwell within thine own holy sphere, to listen to thy voice ! 
holy wisdom doth greet our ear, and in thee we rejoice ! Thus 
blessed are all thy children who seek thee ever. Thus are they 
filled with lasting good, which as a continuous flood surrounds 
them. 

Oh, this is indeed the highest joy that man can ever knf>w, 
this is his holiest privilege, to know thee near him and thy pre- 
sence to comprehend. 

Love doth his being fill, and the effluence of thy will divine 
doth instil into him the purest manhood. 

Thy presence, oh Holy One, doth ever quicken man's high- 
est pulse, and his inmost light doth brighter burn at thy ap- 
proach. 

Thou dost remove all fear, and in the fullest love dost give 
pure freedom from all control. Thou dost free the soul from 
its dread opposites, and in affinities it sought doth fill all va- 
cancies. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 25 

Thy presence unto celestial man is more than man on earth 
can feel. Thou art the sum of all his pleasure, thy love his 
only treasure and thy wisdom his only light. Thou art the 
dearest unto him, and nearest. Thou art all and more than 
ever felt before. 

Oh God ! the measure of celestial wisdom thou canst com- 
prehend, yet unto all below thee it is ever without end. Thou 
dost fill every being with its own sought food. Each and every 
one doth freely receive from thee the filling of his own measure. 

Thus art thou all in wisdom, all in love, yet hast thou freely 
given to celestial man above his highest heaven. He doth ever 
seek thee, and doth ever find in glowing truths beneath thee 
highest food for mind. 

Thought becometh feeling ; will, action, and around thee 
kneeling are seen the seeking host. Seeking in heaven, find- 
eth. There is nought there that blindeth the way of man. 

They that will most purely ever find most surely highest joys 
in heaven. They pave their way with light of day eternal. 
• They will to be, and as they will they are, in the regions of 
the free from earthly cares afar. 

Will freedom thus is found a free existence to produce in the 
future home of man. Free from selfish abuse he doth will him- 
self, and the holy plan doth fill. 

Mind doth wander under the controlling power with safely 
guarded portals, yet without the light within would die with 
all the mortals. 

This light is the effluence of the light divine, and within the 
presence of its source is destined to secure eternal blessings. 

Man must ever learn, and yet can never feel the fullest of 
his highest state. 

When progression can cease man cannot imagine, for this 
power is not within him, he being progressive. 



CHAPTER II 



INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY — HEAVEN PROGRESSIVE — 
HUMILITY— GOD'S GOODNESS SELF-EVIDENT— MAN'S NO- 
BILITY—SEEK RIGHTLY. 



The course of celestial man is as the terrestrial man, up- 
ward and onward in purity. Man is imperfect and progresses, 
and therefore a perfect God cannot progress, and must eter- 
nally be beyond the comprehension of progressive powers. 

Yet all men know either on earth or in heaven that the more 
they progress the more real happiness they experience, and 
therefore it becomes their visible duty unto themselves to strive 
to progress toward the highest point they can ever reach. 

Blessed are they that do earnestly seek to know their high- 
est privilege, and, knowing, do strive to merit. 

Supreme justice doth give unto man celestial, or man in any 
condition that which he alone doth merit. All are recipients 
of God's love, and each measure is justly filled. 

All merit hath affinity for its own appointed reward, which 
is as fruit of the seed planted. 

They that would reap must plant as they would gather the 
harvest. To gather love in celestial purity, lovely seed must 
be planted among the impurities of earth whilst upon it. 

To gather fruits of wisdom, the seed bearing such fruits 
must ever be planted. 

Oh man, if thou wouldst merit God's high favor, favor all 
thou canst whithersoever thou art placed. 

As thou doest unto others so thou doest unto thyself, for as 
thou plantest thou reapest. 

No man can tell where heaven begins, yet all are ever in it ! 
They that seek it afar will never find it, for it is not a locality 
but a feeling. 

It filleth time and eternity and all within it dwell. The 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 27 

highest heaven is simply the purest happiness, and they are in 
it who cannot comprehend beyond. 

Thus heaven is fruit of seed planted unto all. Each doth 
plant and each doth reap his own fruit. Such is the law of 
heaven, as man on earth can prove. All laws are good, ema- 
nations of Him who created the heavens and the earth, and 
consequently truth in any one place is as truth everywhere — 
Eternal. 

God doth not make the road to man's inner home so diffi- 
cult that but few can find it, for he is good, and goodness is in 
man the result of inner feelings, which, if heeded, ever guide 
in the truthful paths. 

They that build barriers between God and his children are 
planting their own paths with thorns, that will be found diffi- 
cult to remove. 

The greatest wisdom is plainest goodness. 

Heaven is rest unto those who seek it. Activity to the 
active, joyous to the joy loving. It is as sought, for it is the 
fruit of seeking. 

There are planes of affinities, which grow out of earthly 
lives, even as a tree groweth from its root. 

The upward path is plain to those who think for themselves, 
they cannot miss it ; whereas, they that are blindly led are in 
affinities which cannot see, and how can they know the glow- 
ing beauties of heaven ? 

The blind wish to lead, which proveth their blindness, for 
no one who seeth individual responsibility clearly will strive to 
assume more than his own. 

And they who wish to be led, prove their blindness unto the 
worth of their own spirits. 

Upon the earth, trees, flowers and running vines mingle, yet 
retain their own separate beauty. All being lovely witnesses 
of the great primeval love and light whence they germinated. 

And man, in his different divisions of individual ones, is as 
diversified and as beautiful as any or all of nature's treasures. 

Man is an eternal being. Could he fully realize on earth 
that the eternal morrow is the result of the eternal day ; that 
they who create sorrow are for themselves creating its fruit, 



28 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

bis heaven would indeed be worth seeking for, his aspirations 
would seek higher avenues unto higher purities. 

The dark fogs enclosing the lovely future must be torn from 
the inheritance of man, and he be educated in truth's eternal 
nature. 

To place to-morrow in the grave, from which there is no 
rising, is to plunge man's spirit into dark despair, for it is to 
annihilate his existence. 

The past is dead, yet that which is to be must ever be shown 
to man as bright, and brighter, yea, and brightest ; else his 
being shrinks from his present as the door of a dread charnel 
house, whence arise noisome vapors to chill and deaden his 
aspiring spirit. 

He doth walk the earth, yea, and the heavens, a present 
beam, whose cause and consequence are his past and future 
states of spiritual progression. 

And he is balanced. He doth ever seek the future, and 
ever leave the past in precise proportion. His present doth 
enjoy all, and doth last unto all eternity, for God, who gave 
his being, is ever present, past and future. 

God was, is, and is to be, for he is perfect. 

The supposition that there is no God, merely makes god of 
no-god, 

The supposition that there is no future state of being for 
man is proven folly, by every successive day of his life. 

They that have and do still live, have proof enough that 
they will forever live. 

Every day hath had its morrow, and is the future of the 
past day, and thus is given daily proof most simple that life 
doth live* as well as its witnesses. 

Night doth follow day, and death follow earthly life, yet a 
new morn cometh unto every child of God which hath no night, 
save as dark seeds have hindered light from entering the 
spirit. 

Man doth sleep at night, and in the day doth work. Thus 
should his nature be, the darkly burning passions should in 
their slumbering might give goodly strength. 

The night should be concealed darkness of spirit, the day 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 29 

the light beams of wisdom emanating from the affinities of 
higher faculties. 

Man doth eternally have his day and night, fgr wisdom in 
revealing the light, doth so at the expense of its opposite. 
Thus, though in the brightest day, he knoweth the darkest 
opposite. 

The past unto the spirit of man is as the painter's reflecting 
cloud, throwing the future light upon his present scene. 

The more man knoweth, the greater perfect knowledge seem- 
eth, and thus in using the figure of day and night it would 
seem that the more light of wisdom he had, the more visible 
became the opposite of the light. 

The enlarging of comprehension showeth the views pre- 
viously held as dark indeed, though in the past they seemed 
most bright. 

The more man doth progress, the greater is the distance to 
his starting point. And in the opposite the same is equally 
true. The good desire the future, the lowest desire their 
childhood, for that was their highest point in goodness. 

Going to heaven is simply turning within one's own spirit 
sanctuary. It is the region of individual happiness, and within 
each individual must it be found. 

Two different men may be in heaven side by side, bound 
together by the same love, and viewing through the same light 
the operations of wisdom, both be very happy, yet at the same 
time be in some respects totally different. 

Then what folly to picture heaven as any given locality, in 
which all are alike, and perfectly happy. Such a heaven 
would be a vacuum of individuality, and at the same time a 
vacancy of wisdom, for imperfection would as the perfect be. 

The future of man's spirit is inconceivably bright, but to 
instruct him that at any given point progression ceases, is to 
make him ask, " What cometh next ?" And thus is discontent 
immediately generated, which, of itself, must eternally annihi- 
late his perfection. 

And the doctrine of a permanent state of happiness for the 
good, builds a permanent state of unhappiness for tho.se who, 
man, in his judgment, termeth bad or wicked. 



30 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

This again furnishes grounds for the good to be indolent, 
after attaining a given amount of goodness, and the bad find 
excuses for becoming more careless of their individuality, and 
consequently less good than they otherwise would. 

That doctrine annihilates hope, and they are most ignorant 
who are led by it, and they are really most bad or wicked 
according to their own measure, if they knowingly teach to 
others such perversion of wisdom ? 

The opposite of love is hatred, the opposite of light or wis- 
dom is darkness or ignorance, but man cannot fix a positive 
love, nor establish one word of positive known wisdom, for at 
the best he is imperfect, and knoweth from his experience that 
he progresses, and that seen as glowing light in the past, is in 
the present dark. 

And how can progressive powers become perfect, without 
immediately being annihilated ? And if man's being becometh 
extinct, who can speak of it ? 

This idea of permanent states of indolent happiness is, in its 
highest planes, worse than death to the aspiring spirit. 

In the most extended sense there can be no room for two 
perfections in the universe for all is necessary in one. 

God is perfect so far as man can comprehend, yet what God 
is in his own view man can never know, for man is not God, 
as the most ignorant spirit ever created knoweth. 

At the infant's first transgression it learneth, at the second 
it learneth still more, and herein starts the course of man, 
which he hath not the power to limit. 

He knoweth not his own beginning, and how can he know 
the ending ? Then what folly to violate all the truths of his 
own experience, and strive to substantiate that which would be 
his own permanent annihilation — a permanent heaven. 

And what worse than folly, to assume powers of building a 
permanent place of torture for beings a loving God created. 

Dwelling upon such ideals is not the highest good for the 
spirit of man. They that continually seek darkness, cast a 
shadow over their affinities, that they alone can remove. 

It might truly be said, blessed are they who think for them- 
selves, for thought leadeth unto comprehension, and compre- 
hension unto a dependence upon God. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 31 

Seeking God is ever seeking thy own highest idea of good- 
ness, wisdom and love, and as thou dost seek the idea, being 
fruit of thy own seeking, it goeth on before into brighter re- 
gions of thy endless eternity. 

And behold thy hope is thy spiritual self, or spiritual light, 
in affinity with the grand hope whence it came, and whither it 
ever tendeth. 

How plain the way unto God ? Why dost thou not seek it ? 
Thou canst not seeking, miss it. Thou hast none to ask save 
Him who knoweth all thy thoughts, and supplieth all thy de- 
sires within thyself, and without any witnesses, save thy own 
spirit. 

Thy outward body requireth sustenance whilst upon earth, 
and thou alone canst partake of the required sustenance, and so 
thy inward spirit requireth that which itself alone can obtain. 
No man can think for thee, and if thou dost not think, thou 
art the loser. 

Those who measure heaven unto man are presuming too 
much, yet to exhort all to seek happiness is an acceptable mis- 
sion. 

When thou wouldst instruct thy brethren, do so simply. Let 
every one be his own judge of all thy instructions. Thou 
mayest be in thy highest heaven, yet cannot therefore perfectly 
teach thy heaven unto another's comprehension. 

Thou mayest call thy brother, but never force him. Thou 
mayest ask, but never command concerning heavenly things. 

Humility is certainly a virtue in all the imperfect. 

The greatest and wisest man is always the least presuming, 
for he feeleth more the wisdom and greatness of his Creator. 

What hath man to build selfishness upon ? He can create 
nothing, and is not even master over his own life, but only the 
enjoyment thereof. Then wherein can come exaltation save 
in an humble reliance upon his good cause ? 

Blessed are the humble in spirit, for they ever feel the pre- 
sence of God. Simplicity and truthfulness of spiritual aspira- 
tions ever elevate man. 

God is the great fountain whence truths flow as his own 
fruit, and the more wisdom man learneth the simpler seem 



32 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

these truths, and hence the simple and truthful in spirit are 
ever near unto this fountain. 

A dependence upon God is simply depending upon what thou 
knowest of him. Thou dost measure thy own capacity to un- 
derstand his ways, yet they are ever felt above thee. 

When thou seekest to do good thou art happy, hence thou 
knowest God is good. What proof doth this require ? That 
which thou hast felt within thee is self-evident. 

If thou hast sought to injure another thou hast been ren- 
dered unhappy, and hence thy own feelings dictate goodness, 
and what is more simple or sensible than to obey ? 

He that doeth good is in heaven, whether in or out of the 
flesh. Death of flesh is the freedom of the spirit, yet this 
death is experienced in all who are untrammeled by the body 
and its cares, even though surrounded by them. 
. Thou canst think of that which is far above the highest at- 
tainment of flesh, and form affinities therefor even while in it. 
If this were not so, how couldst thou progress after leaving the 
body? 

Thou hast seen that not progressing is the same as not being. 
Surely a man is not nearer perfection in the body than out of 
it, and he progresses, whilst yet within the body, to the com- 
prehension of that in which his body can take no part. 

When his body is left on earth all the moving powers are 
extracted therefrom, and certainly they can move better in 
freedom than in bondage. 

It is a great mistake to put off the entering of heaven until 
after leaving the body entirely. It is far better to so live as 
to form high affinities or high spiritual individualities that can 
enter the new state with sensible ideas thereof. 

They who rush headlong into glowing light must not expect 
to see, save as they can comprehend that which is seen. 

They will find their level of happiness, and that, without 
doubt, will be their heaven, and all else will seem void of con- 
geniality. 

The presence of God to those who seek godliness will be felt 
very differently from those who do not, on earth, seek to do 
his will. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 33 

This is the guard of the good. The dazzling light blinds 
those unaccustomed to its brilliancy, and, to see at all, they 
must see in their affinities. 

Hatred cannot love, neither can love hate, and all their 
shades are regulated in enjoyment by the seekers after them. 

Love and wisdom are visible in heaven unto those who exer- 
cise in their pure channels on earth, and consequently they 
enjoy them ; yet to those who cannot see them or feel their in- 
fluence, how can they be known ? 

Spiritual life, as continued in heaven, is merely a progressed 
stage and progressing stage of the same life on earth. 

They that begin wisely continue in wisdom to progress, and 
the actively good reap ample fruits of goodness. 

Space is room for all, and all have space enough for the ex- 
ercise of all their powers. It must ever remain impossible for 
imperfection to fill perfection, in even imaginary powers. 

The home of the blessed is within their own space, and the 
boundary of their space is the limit of their comprehension. 

The most extended home is the most transparent spirit. 
That into which floweth the light of Divine Inspiration is the 
most high enjoyer of heaven. 

Those who merit communion with Deity become, as it were, 
luminous rays of his glory, yet comprehending the glory in its 
passage through them. 

And the glory of God is the highest understanding of man, 
being understood by all differently, yet in itself the same, and 
perfect. 

The love of supreme wisdom and the wisdom of supreme love 
blend in glorifying their holy cause and controller. 

The high gift of intelligence doth give man pure happiness, 
if it be correctly used. The greatest intelligence of man is in 
affinity alone with God's Intelligence, and is a ray thereof con- 
centrated in the child, rendering him a companion of the Father. 

God doth converse alone in perfect wisdom. Man can un- 
derstand to his full extent this wisdom, as it filleth his own ce- 
lestial germ of affinity ; yet his brother hath a germ also filled 
equally with equally sweet food, and each viewing God's wisdom, 
understand their all of it, yet cannot each other understand. 



34 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Man doth have a stronger affinity for Gpd than for his most 
congenial brother man. 

Effect doth have more affinity for its producing cause than 
for any other effect produced thereby. 

Oh, man ! seek not afar for God's intelligence, nor for any 
of his holy attributes. Thou art his highest created, and hence 
can have no affinity for aught save him, or that which is above 
thee, therefore shouldst thou seek within thyself evidence of 
the holy attributes of thy cause. 

To strengthen intelligence follow up thy own ray, and, if 
possible, follow unto the immediate presence and comprehension 
of divine purity. Do not expect to enter the presence com- 
posed of holy essences of most holy goodness if thou dost not 
cultivate thy little germ in affinity thereunto. 

If thou dost not understand thou art confused, and must 
seek thy level below. If thou dost comprehend the inner light 
of the intelligent affinities thou canst not, by a fleshy body, 
be hindered from entering the abodes of high wisdom. 

Affinity is not confined to earth, nor yet to heaven, neither 
is the comprehension of man trammeled by an earthly body, if 
he constantly seek high affinities. 

Surely the goodness of God is not confined to any one place, 
but is witnessed in all things, and the most high witness man 
can obtain is his own light in affinity unto that light which 
ever maketh manifest the goodness. 

What matter where man is ? Distance is not known unto 
him who encompasseth all. Man, by constantly thinking God 
is afar off, formeth affinity for a far off God, and cannot approach 
him. 

He that humbly walketh in the presence of his all-wise and 
loving Parent formeth an attachment unto that presence which 
cannot ever be removed ; and how different his feeling, his 
heaven, from the one with far off affinities. 

He that spurneth realities and doth ever seek imaginary 
fruits doth reap as he soweth, but his harvest cannot be so full 
of rejoicing as though he sought that which he knew, by his 
own experience, to be enduring truth. 

Truth alone is enduring, yet the compass of truth man can- 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 35 

not know. He can know his own portion thereof, which, being 
known, is ever progressive and progressing toward the under- 
standing of still more truth. 

The spirit is in affinity with pure truth, for it is an emana- 
tion of the source of truth, and with the source is, so far as it 
extendeth, truth. 

Truth is unto man's view a boundless name for all the pro- 
ductions of God, and for his comprehension of the existence of 
his God. 

His balance in which truths are weighed is his intelligence. 
He weigheth heavenly truths in the same enduring intelligence 
as earthly truths, hence the necessity of correct intelligence. 

To elevate his intelligence man must seek that which is 
above his present requirement. The higher he goeth the higher 
seemeth that which is above. Every step is progressive from 
conception of individuality unto its termination. 

Oh, man ! thou art indeed a noble centre of the intelligent 
attributes of Deity. Within thee thou wilt find essences of 
universal duration. Thou art an embodiment of the universe. 
A sum of countless parts composed whose vastness, perfection 
alone can measure. 

Thou dost commence with an interminable series when life 
becometh thine, and how swiftly thou dost cleave asunder the 
darkness in thy endless search after that great Cause which 
said, "Let there be light !" 

Noble, endless being, who can limit thee whom God hath 
freed ? Who so grand in power or in wisdom as to limit thee, 
oh son of God ? Behold within thy noble powers the witness 
of thy nobility is given in thy ability to control thyself ! 

Thus art thou godlike. And when thou hast fairly won thy 
high perfection thou canst beside Him sit, a Man, even as He 
is God ! 

Oh, a noble destiny is thine, thou loved child of a perfect 
Father ! Thou art an earth-born God. A being celestial en- 
cased in earthly dust. And in the dust is greatest wisdom re- 
vealed, even as in all thou dost represent, the wisdom of the 
All-wise One. 

God did make the heavens and the earth, and in thee are 



36 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

they all combined. Thou art an angel, a communer with God; 
an animal composed of earth ! 

Oh, how beautiful thou art as seen by pure understanding ! 

Worlds upon worlds are floating around thee, and thou art 
in affinity unto them. A halo of divine intelligence doth circle 
around thee, a crown of love doth bind thy brow, and beneath 
thy feet are truth's firm and steadfast ways, and thou art in af- 
finity unto them all. 

Above and beyond, yet near thee ever, is He who caused 
thee and thine enjoyment, and behold thou art in affinity unto 
the great First Cause ! 

He doth represent all cause — thou art an embodiment of all 
effect in harmony thereunto. 

A sum indeed thou art whose amount thou canst not limit, 
yet in a measure sway from its high destination. 

Thou canst see in the light of truth, yet by avoiding the 
truth thou dost cease to use the light, and if it do not burn 
brightly, it is because thou dost not trim it properly. 

As thou hast affinity or can cultivate affinity for all, how 
very careful thou shouldst be to seek rightly ! 

Thou dost ever learn, and hence, though thou mayest think 
thou art, thou art never perfect in wisdom. 

When overwhelmed with a new burst of light from higher 
affinities, do not therefore conclude thou knowest all, for, as 
hath been said, there is but one real perfection. 

Humility of spirit is a blessing unto man. He should take 
all things as in wisdom given, and endeavor to profit by that 
wisdom. 

Happiness must be learned by experience. It is a natural 
result of natural powers. That is, it is a product of man's af- 
finities, and they are a product of his individuality. 

His individuality is in affinity with the heavens and the 
earth, and his happiness is of the one or the other. 

He can enter thy presence, oh God, and from celestial es- 
sences trace outward the condensing stream of divine intelli- 
gence until it is revealed in outer demonstrations of outer 
bodies. 

He can in those bodies seek and find affinities, but oh, how 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 37 

inconceivably small his happiness in comparison to that given 
by the presence of thee, thou great and loving Cause ! 

He can in the most minute effect see evidence of thee, yet 
the same sight doth thus prove itself capable of entering where- 
in there are higher witnesses unto thy highest goodness. 

And when he doth search for effect instead of cause, there 
come to his vision countless apparent inconsistencies, and he 
doth wander among quicksands which envelope his little wit- 
nesses as fast as found. 

God doth have a witness in every atom, for it is the termi- 
nation of cause and commencement of effect. It is the blending 
of the inward and outward as viewed by men of high intelligence, 
yet unto those who use effects to gain effects it seemeth too small 
and insignificant to prove aught of God. 

They who worship God see beauty, wisdom and goodness 
manifested in all the works of his l^,nd. 

They who leave God ' the cause, and seek among his pro- 
ductions solely for happiness, cannot find the all of their capa- 
bility. 

Man doth have affinity for God, and as he doth cultivate this 
affinity in the same proportion doth it grow within him. 

He can learn on earth of truths most lovely and enduring, 
for this is the birthplace of God's children, and it doth bloom 
in growing joys and ripening fruits of love. It doth feed his 
outer sight with fruits of denser light, whilst within him ever 
shineth that higher, holier torch. 

Man was not for earth created, else God had never given 
space, so limited for its enjoyment. It is the outward evidence 
of outward harmonious affinities in all things created. Upon it 
each one doth learn the termination, as it were, of mighty 
causes, which are again in affinity with the cause of compulsion 
within him. 

In the highest heavens man can view in his well stored mem- 
ory the effects of causes he dwelleth in. He can see how God 
doth create worlds upon worlds, and within his memory can 
find the ultimate of the mighty cause. 

Harmony doth blend all things, and harmony is but a word 
with myriad different significations unto as many children of 



38 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

the Creator thereof ; but oh ! the feeling of celestial love as it 
inspireth each different child is more than tongue can ever tell. 

Love can be felt but never spoken. The spirit of each child 
must feel his own being filled with its pure sweetness, but never 
can reveal its magic power. 

It is a gift, an holy token which to man doth flow as a 
stream of joy, never spoken in his life below. 

In God's presence it doth fill all with high and holy hap- 
piness. 

The love of God is indeed an high affinity, and unto which 
all of earth or the universe of which earth is but an atomic part 
is as dust in the balance. 

God's love for thee is as thy love for him, for thou art the 
measure unto thee. He doth not change from perfection, and 
for thee to merit his high regard thou must ever strive to ob- 
tain a pure love for his own holiness. 

As thou art good and loving, so doth God see thee for thou 
dost enter within his sight, all in his loving sight being very 
good. If thou art not good, do not expect to be seen of God. 

Thou dost necessarily have good within thee to exist, yet 
being master over it thou art seen in thy fruits. 

Thou art never by another condemned in God's sight save to 
the extent of thy own responsibility, thus he seeth thee as thou 
seeth him, and thy own light revealeth all. 

Thy goodness shineth in the heaven thou dost enter, and 
this alone is seen of God. Thy lower affinities cannot know 
his presence, and how could they enjoy if they know not ? 

All things are regulated in wisdom, and hence to understand 
them the first step is to humbly seek affinity unto the wisdom. 

Thus wouldst thou seek the germ whence the wisdom grew, 
and in obtaining the germ of pure knowledge thou wouldst ever 
grow in harmony thereunto. 

Around thy roots encased in richest earth would be found 
results of mighty principles, which in turn were results of mighty 
essences, and they as the arm of God would be seen watering 
and nourishing thy humble life. 

Thus behold thy simple training as the gardener traileth his 
choicest vine. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 39 

Thou art planted in earth, but in heaven thou dost bloom 
and bear. Thou dost send thy creeping tendrils higher and 
ever higher, and dost seek to grasp the Infinite in thy tiny 
coils. He seeth thy weakness, yet knoweth thou art seeking 
strength, and doth give thee even on earth around thy roots 
enduring nourishment. 

Thus did He plant thee, and wisdom is in it seen of highest 
nature. 

Thou dost ever pierce the higher realms of glory, yet in 
origin what art thou but an earth-born child ? What lessons of 
humility are couched in this great thought ? 

Oh man, in learning humility thou art indeed wise. 



CHAPTER III. 



AFFINITIES— HOLY SELFISHNESS IN CONTRAST WITH 

EARTHLY— SELF-DEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM. 



God's immensity of wisdom, his extent of intelligence doth 
furnish thee with an endless field for thy endless progression. 

Thy bodily powers are but an outward selfish demonstration 
of outward evidences of his holy wisdom. 

The body doth arise from the earth, and from the earth par- 
take of nourishment befitting its wants. It walketh around an 
apparent circle, and giveth back itself to earth again, filling 
the wants of the earth even as its own wants were by earthly 
productions filled. 

This should be the end of earth in man. And how small 
seemeth this momentary existence compared with that which it 
begins but which can never end ! 

The existence of the spirit of man ariseth in the heavens. It 
starteth upward from the germ of existence on its endless errand, 
yet it is bound in flesh for a season that in the highest refine- 
ment of material nature it may learn the commencement of in- 
terminable wisdom. 

This essencic being wanders among the outward things of its 
earth, and by the affinities of its earth for earth doth learn, as 
otherwise it could not learn, the beautiful effects of causes which 
thereafter must be learned. 

The flowery fields and blossoming trees of its lower home 
bring evidences of harmony. The fruits of the harvest prove 
that the laborer is worthy of his return for the labor. And the 
winter winds again prepare the earth to again receive and 
nourish seed in the coming spring. 

The seasons and their fruits are good witnesses of God's wis- 
dom and love, and in man is the power of enjoying them. Thus 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 41 

he labors in lovely fields and lovely fruits do grow, witnesses 
that all is good that God hath created. 

The lowest affinities are good if rightly used. 

The earth leaveth the spirit as the spirit seeketh heaven. The 
spirit of heaven, the body of earth, they must in harmony dwell 
that the lasting part may know truths couched in that left be- 
hind, but which still exists as nourishment unto the earth and 
the things thereof. 

In the higher realms of higher wisdom, the spirit doth often 
seek for outside evidence, as it were, of the causes around it in 
the memory of itself whilst yet encased within the earth. 

Blessed are they who know themselves. They are their only 
key to wisdom of most exalted nature. They that know 
themselves know their dependence upon God, and through this 
knowledge cometh celestial happiness. 

They know also themselves to be the highest earthly produc- 
tion in the outward, and thus have within themselves the earth 
refined. 

They are the heaven and the earth unto themselves, and bles- 
sed are they who in earth learn of heaven's connection therewith. 

The link of harmony is man. He is of heaven yet in earth, 
an earthly statue in which dwelleth a comprehension of 
immortality. 

He who spurns the earth rejecteth great evidence of infinite 
wisdom. 

He who rejects heaven, or future happiness, is most unwise 
for earthly affinities are of earth and of the present, and cannot 
benefit man so highly as those which endure. 

Affinities termed earthly are those that are formed by being 
in harmony with effects. Affinities termed heavenly are those 
that are produced by seeking causes ; in the highest, are those 
in affinity with God. 

Every man must have affinities and must himself regulate 
them, for they are a result of individuality. 

As in all else, each and every man must have his own and 
different affinities from every other one. 

Man is guarded well. God did give him individuality and it 
is an impenetrable barrier unto every other self created. 
4 



42 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Each and every one doth have his own wisdom, his own love 
and his own truth, yet all do blend in unison, for the blending 
of all is in God. 

Each doth have his heaven and earth, and unto him they are 
as distinct from any other man's as though no other existed. 

Individual responsibility and enjoyment are eternal. In the 
celestial heavens each holy man doth view his own God with 
his own affinitive vision. 

This to those who look with earthly affinities, may seem most 
selfish, but the highest selfishness is the highest virtue man can 
possibly obtain, for it is one in direct affinity with its Creator. 
And they who in their own direct ray of affinity with God con- 
stantly dwell, are never in another's way. 

They become godlike, with an universal love view all things, 
and ever strive to behold his works in that pure light which 
revealeth all things as very good. 

This is the place unto which true selfishness would ever seek 
to obtain admittance. 

This is heavenly selfishness, and how it contrasts with that 
which is of earth. 

Man's comprehension relates exclusively unto himself, and 
might be termed in common with his individuality most selfish. 
God did thus create him, as his comprehension teacheth, and 
thus must it be good to be. 

He that doeth most good doeth it from promptings within 
himself, and consequently is most selfish. God gave all things 
of himself, and hence himself is selfish as proven by all his 
works. 

Man in affinity unto this holy selfishness doth imitate it. 

He giveth freely as he receiveth, for as God giveth him he 
must imitate God in giving, thus knowing he shall the more 
merit and the more receive. 

Oh man, heavenly selfishness liveth forever, that of earth 
which thou hast seen in its narrowness is short lived and very, 
very low in its affinities. 

It is as the deep dark cave in which noisome vapors almost 
stagnate the powers of the spirit, whilst that of heaven in its 
high refinement doth give unto man most holy happiness. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 43 

Thou art shown these contrasting points that thou mayest 
learn from the extremes thy own position. 

He is really most virtuous who hath most holy selfishness. 

He is most degraded who knoweth himself to be a selfish 
hater of his kindred. 

Thou art between these points. Thy vessel can safely an- 
chor in the lighted harbor of wisdom, or be driven by a care- 
less helm upon the darkened coast of selfish despair. 

Selfishness is that which relates unto individualities. 

Man's individuality is composed of two parts, Earth and 
Spirit, and hence his selfishness is of the one or the other, or, 
by them, is an emanation of harmony composed, in which they 
mutually blend. 

Thus the selfishness of man can become instrumental in his 
elevation or depression in his scale of progression. Surely 
selfishness would prompt the proper guidance of his own indi- 
viduality, in order to insure high affinities and higher enjoy- 
ments in the beautiful and lovely hereafter. 

Even in selfishness is an evidence of goodness of God. It 
is as it were an outside hedge to keep away foreign influences 
from intercepting the passage of the spirit to its highest 
heaven. A sentinel placed over individualities to keep each 
one in its proper plane and sphere of action. 

Earthly selfishness is distinguished from its opposite, hea- 
venly selfishness, by its grasping of other individualities that 
which it deems necessary to its own gratification ; whilst the 
higher and holier opposite striveth to obtain the highest favor 
for itself by seeking the great and good Cause. 

The one striveth to hinder man, the other striveth to help him, 
inasmuch as it elevateth one individual higher in happiness. 

True selfishness is true goodness. It leadeth man at once 
directly to the fountain of all good, and the receiving of good 
is the dispensing of goodness. 

Earthly selfishness seeketh exclusively the things of the 
earth, and hence its tendency is to keep man from ascending 
to the things which are of the spirit, and consequently above 
or of more importance than those belonging unto the earthly 
nature. 



44 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

They that seek shall find, and it matters not what they seek 
the sought crowneth their efforts. 

Earthly selfishness is a base upon which rests earthly affini- 
ties, which being of the flesh, and in the same being as is the 
immortal spirit, their predominance must be at the cost of the 
spiritual affinities, and consequently after the separation of the 
spirit from the outside flesh, spiritual enjoyment must be thereby 
depressed. 

Yet this selfishness is good so far as it is rightly used. 

The spirit and body are joined in one being, and conse- 
quently this being must be preserved, in order to develope the 
proper spiritual individuality, and the preserver is this selfish- 
ness in its proper usage. 

It is necessary for the body to be supplied, which necessity 
hath created a disease, which in turn hath been transmitted to 
generation after generation, and hath augmented the power of 
the earthly selfishness to a fearful extent. 

Thus the nature of man outwardly hath swelled itself into a 
great diseased self-love, which is a perverted love of self, as 
proven by its tendency to draw all its votaries down from all 
spiritual attainments, and fasten their desires around the things 
of passing time. 

On the other hand, an heavenly selfishness prompteth to 
holy deeds of love, for it is an imitator of God, who is known 
by his fruits to be of love, and of all things man can compre- 
hend as good. 

Yet if this spiritual selfishness leadeth unto things never of 
use to the body whilst in it, it is thereby diminishing its own 
capability to ascend by not elevating its ascending powers, 
which in a measure are of the earth. 

Being in the body is surely good, else a good God had never 
placed the spirit within it. Earthly action should be a blend- 
ing of spiritual and earthly selfishness, the one connecting 
spirit with God, the other man with man in harmony. 

Celestial man doth not require outside selfishness, for within 
his memory are stored the fruits of causes which he is enabled 
to produce in evidence at will. Yet these fruits were gathered 
by his self whilst upon the far off home of earth. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 45 

He cannot select from another's storehouse results that are 
necessary evidences unto his own spirit, for such results were 
not gathered by and prove nothing unto him. 

Selfishness binds individuality. That of earth binds earth 
to earth, that of heaven binds the spirit to God. Yet being in 
the same individuality, they must harmonize to produce the 
highest good, for an harmonious God thus placed them. 

Man in the highest is a result derived from man in the low- 
est, through countless shades of progression. To eternally 
progress, his starting point must have been the lowest of the 
low in an imaginary scale, and still forever to continue pro- 
gression, he must attain heights which earthly powers can 
never comprehend. 

And his selfishness is ever with him. In the lowest it seek- 
eth lowest gratification, in the highest it seeketh highest hap- 
piness in purest goodness. 

Thus is man. An endless scale of progression, and all his 
powers or passions, when viewed with charitable wisdom, are 
very good. 

Even selfishness is found to be a staff, sustaining his falter- 
ing steps in the upward plane, as he wanders and wonders on 
toward perfection. 

Man in seeking gratification in the exercise of earthly sel- 
fishness is necessarily descending every step, for in retrograding 
the fruit is lower than the seed, as it is higher in progressing. 

In seeking exclusively that which hath been termed hea- 
venly selfishness, the danger is that his spirit will tire of all 
outward restraint, and run into the opposite extreme ; that is, 
there is danger of becoming too imaginary in searching for 
heaven, and thus losing the feeling which alone is heaven. 

A healthful, harmonious action of the whole being, termed 
man, giveth the highest future he is capable of comprehending. 

There is a point where the selfishness of man might with 
propriety be termed his love of God. Loving God is simply 
loving what is comprehended of that which man believeth to 
be God. 

Each and every man loveth God according to his own mea- 
sure of love and of God. 



46 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

They that say there is no God, and do thus believe, love 
their own ideal, indefinite something, which is their god. 

Man must love, and his first love is self-love. He ever 
loveth that which he believeth above his imperfection, yet the 
ideal thus loved is a production of his own powers, really an 
emanation from himself. 

The truth that the better man becomes, the higher riseth 
his ideal god, is sufficient to prove that God is perfection of 
good. Yet this perfection of good may be called myriad dif- 
ferent names, without being in the least affected thereby. 

All men are seeking, and that which all are seeking in its 
refinement is God. All build a spiritual home, and a some- 
thing therein which is good. They may change the name of 
this something, but their own yearning is the proof that what 
they seek is goodness unto themselves. , 

Thus we see that selfishness was in the first necessary, and 
will in the last be. God did make man selfish, and it was ne- 
cessary, for out of selfishness he buildeth individuality. 

The nature of man must experience truth to know its strength 
and enduring goodness, and to experience truth he must come 
in contact with it. And, as hath been said, the infant learn- 
eth from its fall a truth which eternally remaineth a part of 
its knowledge. 

Man must, as it were, eternally fall ; that is, must come in 
contact with greater truths continually, which must be expe- 
rienced to become imbedded in his individuality. 

If a man do not fall how can he rise ? He must know of his 
own imperfection, ere he seek perfection. 

All are imperfect, which they know by knowing there are 
things they do not comprehend, and to find these truths, and 
imbed them in their individuality, is selfishness given. Its 
proper mission is to collect truths around the learner, from 
which he becometh familiar with their operation, and conse- 
quently benefited thereby. 

The truly selfish cannot clash in their searching after truth, 
for they are different, and must seek truths different in nature, 
or the same truths differently. 

True selfishness would produce perfect harmony among man- 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 47 

kind. Each one would seek truths which can but harmonize 
those seeking, and harmonize when found. 

Depending upon one another, instead of the direct inspira- 
tion received from God, in answer to humble aspiring prayer, 
hath led mankind into errors which are hard to remove. 

Inheritance is necessary that good may be retained in the 
world, yet when that which is diseased is inherited, the one 
inheriting must suffer. 

Upright selfishness, or love of self, would prompt man to 
love his brother man, but more than all, to love his heavenly 
Father, and to seek counsel from him direct. 

Loving God is loving all goodness, as thou knowest it to be, 
and not as some one else knows it. Herein again is the love 
of self demonstrated to be thy own knowledge of goodness. 

Celestial heavens are individual heavens, or those in which 
individualities become perfect. 

Herein man is man indeed, and dependent solely upon God. 

This doth not annihilate his communion with other celestial 
men, but giveth higher and holier planes than ever before 
conceived. 

Yet is the being termed man in truth selfish wherever found, 
for he is one, and consequently all he does must be in relation 
to this one, and therein germinate. 

Wherever man is found he is still man, and what higher or 
simpler name could be applied to each and every thinking 
spiritual being God ever created ? 

When man becometh a full being, when he hath learned 
that he can only depend upon one great good, whose highest wit- 
ness is within his own spirit, then can he progress in the know- 
ledge of God which is eternal. 

This high attainment is the high celestial Heaven unto man. 
Therein he becometh an harmonious being. He is one and 
controller thereof, for he hath learned that he must control his 
own individuality by high and holy aspirations, ere he entered 
this high existence. 

This high state of happiness can be obtained by man's spirit 
whilst yet in the flesh. He can by perfecting his individuality, 
by depending upon God solely for wisdom, reach realms which 
to all, save his Father and himself, are unknown. 



48 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

The flesh is good, and he who knoweth this truth will never 
despise it, nor seek blindly to leave it behind him. It is thrown 
around the spirit, to be used in obtaining knowledge. 

He who seeketh wisdom in the flesh is indeed wise, and unto 
him flesh will never be a burden. It is every man's duty to 
use the powers of his body in illustrating or giving body, as it 
were, to the truths around him, thus fastening them within his 
spiritual self, or, in future, in his celestial individuality. 

He who rejects the evidence obtained through his body's in- 
strumentality, is neglecting eternal benefits. 

Should the vine have its roots severed from it, how could 
it ascend ? Thus is man. His roots are implanted in earth, 
that of the earth he may learn truths which can only therein 
by him be learned. 

He that despiseth the beginning doth not merit the ending. 

Each and every man must seek within their portion of the 
earth that which giveth them their growth of individuality. 
They must become an harmonious whole being ere they can 
enter celestial heavens. 

This does not mean that they should become perfect, for 
there is but one perfect, but that they must become individual 
ones dependent solely upon God, and knowing that they thus 
must depend to be celestial men. 

There is a great difference between a perfect individuality 
and a perfect man. The one expresses an harmonious exer- 
cise of all the individual powers ; the other is what man can- 
not comprehend until he indeed becometh perfect. 

This harmonious exercise of man's powers must give him 
higher happiness than aught else, for they were given there- 
for, a good Father having bestowed them. 

Man being the highest work of God, must in himself receive 
highest evidence of, and favors from God. To receive the 
knowledge of causes he is connected with God ; to learn of 
effects, he is placed among them on earth. 

He is a combination of cause and effect, and can among 
them labor, for he hath an essence within him which is from 
the cause of all causes whence all effects flow. 

To understand effects he must experience them, and this is 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 49 

the body's sphere of action. To understand causes he must 
ever seek the cause of them. 

Man cannot comprehend God, yft can comprehend so far 
as he hath experienced his goodness. 

There is danger of descending too low among effects to find 
witnesses of the highest causes. Man being the highest earthly 
formation, is the highest effect he can analyze in the outward. 
His interior perceptions are, as it were, transparent rays of 
intelligence in harmony with wisdom, and hence he can look 
at the actions prompted by his earthly nature, analyze and 
retain therefrom knowledge. 

Thus is formed an individuality which is spiritually in har- 
mony with the spirit of God, and yet in harmony with the com- 
bined effects of earth as concentered within the body around 
the spirit. 

In seeking below man for witnesses of good causes there is 
danger of running on fruitless errands, or of forgetting the 
cause entirely in wondering at its effects. 

The varied beauty of material objects, as viewed by the 
lover of the beautiful, wraps the whole being in enjoyment ; 
yet even here there is danger that the outward is thought the 
fountain of beauty instead of God, and the light from him 
within the beholder. 

Was beauty exclusively outward, man could only know it as 
the animals devoid of his spirit, for it could not become in har- 
mony with his spirit, and would only be recognized by animal 
sensation. 

The more developed man becometh, the higher is his appre- 
ciation of the beautiful, for the refined spirit refineth the chan- 
nels through which it gaineth information, and thus do the 
body and spirit unite in making all things lovely that the hand 
of God hath done. 

The refined or harmonious earthly man gaineth his knowledge 
and his beauties of outward nature from an affinity for causes. 

He looks at all things as results of one Almighty cause, and 
looketh at the cause through all things. Thus are high affini- 
ties formed which are the attributes of an elevated individu- 
ality which, in eternity, enjoyeth its own high fruits. 



50 the' healing of the. nations. 

The varied beauty of man's thought is a higher study than 
the effects around which it playeth. Did h^s spirit cease to oper- 
ate on his animal brain, of what avail would all outward beauty be ? 

Yet within him in the darkest night can he find food at 
times more sweet than oft cometh from the loveliest view with- 
out. The highly developed spirit and the harmonious brain 
do ofttimes produce, by combination, more congenial food to 
mind than aught else can produce. 

Man hath the kingdom of heaven within himself, and he is 
in a measure king over the heaven. His ideal self or spiritual 
combination in affinity with God, doth forever stay above the 
effect part of his nature, and this might be termed the king of 
his heaven. 

The king ministers unto his desire for causes by its affinity 
with the fountain, and he ministers in effect his just return. 

Oh, man ! it is difficult, indeed, to word wisdom ! Thou hast 
seen times when within thee there seemed a welling fountain 
which flowed with liquid wisdom, and hast felt, indeed, what 
words can never tell. Such feelings are a foretaste of thine 
own well-earned celestial heaven. 

A heaven which is thine own inheritance ! In supremest 
justice it is thine, given thee of God. Even as of earth thou 
dost inherit flesh and enjoyments belonging thereunto, so of 
God dost thou inherit thine own kingdom of heaven. 

Thou art in God and He in thee, yet he is perfect and thou 
art imperfect. 

As thou dost enter affinities which are God-like, thou art in 
him, and as he doth prompt thy aspirations and give thee holy 
inspiration, herein is he manifest within thee. 

He and thou are one when ye dwell in harmony, one in 
spirit and in truth, one in love and wisdom, and this one is thy 
God, and thou art his child. 

God gave thee existence but God did not become less, neither 
canst thou become more than he gave thee power to be. 

Perfection man cannot comprehend, yet what he can com- 
prehend of an all-wise being is his perfect god, for it ever 
ascendeth as it approacheth the inward holiness which ever in 
man doth progress toward purity. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 51 

Within and eternally within is God. Seek and ye shall find 
within your own kingdom of heaven an eternal fountain ever 
flowing in all and more of love and light than can ever by man 
he measured. God is within thee and thou art within him. 

How sublimely beautiful the truth that God is not afar off! 
and how encouraging to all to seek the fountain of purity to 
know that within them it is only to be found. 

The invitation is eternally flowing in its divine waters — " En- 
ter, enter, within thy holy fountain is joy more sweet, and 
love more pure than all save God can ever give." 

The shrine of man is within him and ever groweth brighter. 

Could earthly powers comprehend the wisdom, love and 
purity of the Great Creator, what would become of man in the 
eternal progress of his spiritual being ? The stationary foun- 
tain of his existence would dwindle into an effect, unto which 
celestial man would be as a great cause. 

Therefore is man's imperfection good, and had God not thus 
created him his own powers had been usurped and himself have 
been imperfect, for two perfections cannot exist. 

Yet is God necessarily in this imperfection, else how could 
it exist ? And inasmuch as he is in himself, therefore is it 
within him. 

If man is imperfect and still from a perfect God did receive his 
existence, then perfection must also comprehend imperfection. 

Yet inasmuch as imperfection does progress, perfection can- 
not progress, and from this is seen that God is distinct from 
man, and man is in his measure distinct from God. Yet both 
do blend and in one end do terminate. 

All existence cometh from God, for nothing can create itself. 

All existence returneth unto God, for nothing can annihi- 
late itself. 

Man is an imperfect master of an imperfect being, given ex- 
istence by perfection, and, having powers of aspiring thereto, 
he can eternally dwell within the presence of perfection, yet 
never become that perfection. 

Thus it is good to be, for thus has God willed it, as man can 
know from his own progression. 

Oh, man ! thou art upon the threshhold of an endless cxis- 



52 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

tence. Thou hast been called of God to earthly labor, which 
is the opening of the door leading back to his holy presence. 

Oh ! wait not for earth. Heaven is before thee beckoning 
on to higher joys thy earth bound spirit. 

Thy present is even now leaving thee, and still eternity 
rolleth on in endless rounds. 

Thou art an inheritor of God's kingdom, which is found in 
eternal life, and whose enjoyment is eternal love and pure 
wisdom. 

Thou dost stand in the presence of the Great Creator and 
canst view the fountains of divine attributes ever welling and 
spreading far and wide in boundless floods of living glory ; thou 
canst see them nourishing and cherishing all things, and canst 
see the harmony restored by the returning floods of love and 
wisdom as they again ascend to the fountains and again pass 
out on another endless round. 

All attributes of Deity do condense into love and wisdom, 
which is the all of intelligence, so far as man hath power to 
comprehend. 

Yet can man never positively know what doth come from 
Deity, and the truth that man doth love cannot positively 
prove that God is love, for man is imperfect. 

To study thyself and to strive to comprehend the full extent 
of thy eternal powers doth ever raise thee toward all thou be- 
lievest to be God. 

As thou dost believe that power to be which gave thee power 
to believe, so must that power be, else it is false unto itself. 

Thus, perfection doth encompass, fill and comprehend all 
things, and, so far as thou canst measure, so far are all things 
measured unto thee. 

And herein thou seest the necessity of having an individu- 
ality dependent solely upon God. Didst thou depend upon 
any or aught else save him whom thou hopest to see, thou 
wouldst have to constantly change, and would have thy depen- 
dence ever varying. 

Depend upon thyself. Within thee cometh thy evidence of 
God, and in truly depending upon thyself, thou«dost most surely 
depend upon him. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 53 

They who blindly call upon His holy name, do call upon 
their own blindness, for therein is their only affinity. 

They who humbly aspire after wisdom and love, must from 
these fountains receive nourishment, for of such is their affinity. 

They who seek their Creator and aspire to depend solely 
upon him for all things, do receive within themselves his own 
divine inspiration, for this do they attract, by their labor it is 
earned, and a just Creator bestoweth it. 

This is within the experience of man and what all men can 
experience. But to receive inspiration from Deity aspirations 
must ever ascend as thou believest, toward the holy fountain 
of ail. 

They who aspire after God's blessing must never dictate 
what shall be given, for if God be perfect, surely he knoweth 
best what is needed unto the aspiring one. 

Prayer is the constant aspiration of spirit, a channel through 
which God doth approach unto man. Thus thou seest the ne- 
cessity for thy endeavoring to open this channel. 
. God being unlimited, can ever make manifest his power ; 
but thou art limited, and it seemeth best, as thou knowest by 
experience, for thee to approach him, and in approaching, learn 
how to appreciate what thou receivest. 

Thy aspirations being that which must open the channel unto 
inspiration, and being thus proven by thine own experience, 
how else or by what other means couldst thou receive it ? 

A righteous God doth give righteous gifts, but if thou dost 
not enter affinity unto righteousness, how canst thou receive 
them, or how appreciate if thou couldst receive ? 

Become godlike so far as thou canst understand godliness, 
and thus wilt thou be worthy, and thy worthiness will ever in- 
crease as thou dost ascend. 

Thou canst not attain purity, for thou knowest not what it is. 

Thou canst seek to be pure, and thus ever progress in purity, 
or toward purity, but to attain it comprehension is necessary. 

Aspire to be pure. Strive within thyself to create a perfect 
heaven, and thou canst do it — perfection in thee being remem- 
bered to be always imperfect. 

Ferfect happiness to thee is as an imperfect comprehension 



54 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

measures it, yet when thou thinkest thyself perfectly happy, 
the next thought proves thou art not, for thy eternal nature 
eternally yearneth after that which it hath not. 

Thus is it good to be. God giveth all things, and how could 
he give to thee if thou wert continually satisfied, and didst not 
crave his gifts ? 

Surely perfection cannot waste itself away, and if thou dost 
not crave purity, thou canst not receive it, for 'tis the craving 
which proveth the gift would to thee be good. 

Thou must ever receive of God all that can give happiness. 

Blessed is he who constantly striveth to expand his capa- 
bility to receive from God. Unto such all received seems good, 
they do not expect permanent blessings, for such gifts would 
not be good to them, they being changeable. 

The greatest gift of God received is existence. This is 
an hallowed centre, emitting ever more and still more brilliant 
rays in glory of him who gave, and in happiness to him who 
received. 

Man must take charge of himself and of all things relating 
thereunto, which will be found to comprise all he can know of 
everything created. 

Man was not made to be a spiritual slave, God is free. 

God's freedom is perfect ; man's freedom is imperfect, yet 
seemeth to himself perfect, for it is the controlling of himself 
so far as master thereof. 

He hath freedom to enjoy his own being, but notto destroy it. 

He did not create it, and consequently there are things con- 
nected with it which ever remain beyond his reach, and herein 
is the proof of his imperfection. 

He is a free man who comprehendeth all his powers. 

He is free who knoweth himself. Thus God alone is free in 
the full sense of freedom, for there must ever remain a part of 
man which man can never know, else he would cease progress- 
ing, which would annihilate his existence, as proven by the 
truth that he doth progress and doth exist. 

This self-freedom is to man celestial heaven, and from this 
point commenceth a progression which is far higher than all 
other avenues in which to progress. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 55 

They who obtain this full control of their full oneness know 
of all things as God knoweth of them, for they must fully har- 
monize with the cause of their existence ere they have power 
to control the existence. 

They are thus rendered free from earth and free from all 
heavens save their own individual heaven. 

They are free from man's control, yet can in love and wis- 
dom blend and commune with him. They are free from re- 
straint of God because of being in harmony with him, and he 
doth not surely restrain himself nor need restraining. 

This is the point or plane of existence wherein earth leaveth 
the spirit of man, save as retained in the well filled storehouse, 
termed memory. 



CHAPTER IV. 



CELESTIAL INDIVIDUALITY — MAN ABOVE ALL CIRCUM- 
STANCES— SELF-RESPECT— MAN CREATETH HIS OWN 
HEAVEN. 



The more comprehensive the view of man the less doth earth 
affect his vision and the more high do his affinities become. 

The concentration of his heavenly affinities into an indepen- 
dent man on high, so far as man can become independent, 
giveth him the title of celestial man, for he hath ceased, ere 
reaching this point, to be of the earth in affinity. 

To attain this independence of earth, the earthly nature 
must have finished its mission in laboring to benefit the spirit 
to its fullest extent. 

When thou dost enter celestial heaven or celestial individu- 
ality, all which thou hast retained and of which thou art com- 
posed becometh transparent. This is proven by thy clearness 
when comprehending some beautiful idea, even though on earth. 

Where heavenly life or individual enjoyment thereof com- 
mences, there is a barrier beyond which none of man's perver- 
sion can pass. 

All must seek purity, and all wish to be seen precisely as 
they are, that each one may from others receive a sweet influ- 
ence such as affinity understood alone can give. 

Herein each one knoweth himself to be one in affinity unto 
the One of all, and consequently in affinity with every other 
one emanating from this pure source. 

All seek truth. All love, and are more or less wise as they 
comprehend truth. There is nought to seek save truth and 
nought save truth can be found. And celestial progression or 
eternal progression, that which ever approacheth the boundless 
comprehension of God the eternal, is simply the gathering of 
truth's rays around the progressing spirit, and therefrom ex- 
tracting always more refined wisdom. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 57 

And the freedom of truth is thus given to all who can. un- 
derstand its pure simplicity. 

As the realms of holy wisdom are more and more compre- 
hended, the broader becometh the expanse of heaven. The 
more truth man doth imbed within his celestial individuality, 
the more happiness doth he experience. 

Freedom of thought and freedom of action only come as 
man cometh toward their great fountain. When the man that 
was of earth becometh a man of heaven, his individuality must 
be perfect and need no restraining. 

Thus, celestial individuality is unto man perfect freedom, yet 
in his connection with God is a tie of pure affinity, but this 
very tie is his greatest freedom, for God's freedom is perfect 
unto him. 

Herein man is not trammeled by any earthly ties. He can 
love all mankind and teach them by his daily practice and ex- 
ample the high state in which his spirit dwelleth, and yet can 
they never stand between him and his exalted freedom. 

Those who attain this state *on earth are the only free men 
thereon. They must seek only to do God's will, as within 
themselves 'tis ever manifested. 

This state must be experienced, as, indeed, all others, to be 
fully comprehended. He who hath tasted of this delicious 
draught knoweth of a certainty that he hath eternal life. 

Before him opens the book of life and in it he doth read his 
destiny. He seeth himself a germ newly born, and in this 
concentration of eternal life is all the past condensed. 

The past life of earth, or spirit in earth, is seen as the shield 
around the newly born germ of celestial life, and from which 
ariseth a form like unto which there can be none in all the 
creation of God. 

The first life buildeth the second, termed celestial. 

The man who loveth God above all else, and who in all 
things striveth to be faithful to his full measure of responsibi- 
lity, who doeth good because of goodness being loved for itself 
alone, such man hath born within him a new life which hath 
no affinity for earth. 

And his individuality is completed so far as earth can min- 
5 



58 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

ister unto its wants. Such men do exist in the flesh. And 
though tfyey have earned admittance into that high presence 
wherein there is no error, or affinity therefor, and wherein they 
will be most welcome guests, still, that God may be glorified, 
they are to labor on earth and suffer under its cares and numer- 
ous trials. 

God hath his flock on earth who labor thereon for his sole 
glory, and ever and anon they are greeted with an illumination 
of spirit which is unto them evidence of his holy presence. 

Such men seek truth for its own sake. They learn of God 
to teach unto man. The earth doth not love such for they are 
beyond its narrow affinities. They are persecuted because of 
their uprightness before God. 

The earth loveth its own. He that is in affinity with God 
will never be in affinity with those not of Him. 

The man w T ith high affinities walketh the earth bodily, but 
spiritually he communeth with God ; and what his hands do, 
or his mouth utters, or his ears hear, or his eyes see, all appear 
to be performed without his thoughts being employed thereon. 

There are, as it were, two beings within him. The one 
takes charge of all relating to earth, the other of all relating 
to heaven. 

This is a blessed state to attain on earth, for it createth a 
larger germ in heaven, whence will grow a larger individuality 
than if not attained in time. 

Great and grand is the eternal destiny of man ! 

It is good for man to contemplate his high destiny. It is 
good to form within his mind high and pure ideals, for these 
become a part of his nature, and do reveal themselves in his 
thought and action, benefiting his kind. 

It is good to think of thy heavenly Father continually, that 
thou mayest ever lead a life dedicated unto him, and every 
action be unto his glory, and every thought thine own reward. 

It is good for thee to form high and pure affinities, to build 
thyself in heaven a man who loveth purity, godliness and 
wisdom. 

Such is it good to do. It is never good to be careless of 
thyself, to wander uncaring among lovely truths all thy life, 






THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 59 

forming thy celestial germ most slowly and not fulfilling thy 
privileges. 

It is not good to forget thy connection with God thy Father, 
and upon things beneath thee waste thy affinities. 

It is never good to forsake thy duty as thou canst know it 
to be by searching within thee for that light which never lead- 
eth man astray. 

Thou art an eternal being within thyself, and should act of 
thyself as though conscious of thy exalted position. 

Be honest and upright in all thy connections with man, but 
do not forget that the purest gifts are always due unto Him who 
gave thee all thou hast. 

Love all, but more than all God, who is eternally all unto 
thee. Thy eternity is based upon thy earthly life. Thou dost 
out of thy combined nature produce one which is in harmony 
with God. 

This is thy labor on earth and the highest. Thou dost labor 
in wisdom and love, and from them mould thy heavenly form, 
which is transparent, pure, and needs no concealment. 

Laboring for God is laboring for thyself, for you cannot be 
separated. 

Then what could excuse thee wert thou careless of thy 
thoughts and actions ? Thou art thy own field and thy own 
laborer, and the labor bringeth unto thee reward. Around 
thee is a barrier none can pass. Thy neighbor cannot help 
thee, for if he labor in thy field, were this possible, his is the 
labor done, and not thine. 

All men are distinct and separate, and to keep them sepa- 
rate they are created different. No two being alike are most 
easily known, in all positions, by their Creator. 

Each and every man hath his freedom to act as within himself 
cometh guidance, or to be governed by circumstances without. 

In following the first, his own light, he cannot go wrongly, 
and in following numberless lights he cannot go rightly. 

Man is above all circumstances ; unless, indeed, his eternal 
existence and connection with God be called circumstances, 
which would be wrong, for circumstances vary and truth can- 
not vary. 



60 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

He is above all outside circumstances, inasmuch as he hath 
a monitor within which ever pointeth above them all, and en- 
courageth man to ascend higher than they, to a being which 
surely cannot by the thinking be termed a circumstance. 

To suppose that man hath no light within for his guidance, 
is to suppose his ceasing to be man, when it might more rea- 
sonably be said he was a .creature of circumstances. 

And yet in all animals instinct is almost ungovernable, and 
if they be creatures of circumstances surely God alone is the 
great circumstantial producer, and the name is merely used as 
a name instead of using the name truth to express living 
qualities. 

Circumstances are produced by man and not man by cir- 
cumstances. 

He who becometh a slave to circumstances cannot be a ser- 
vant of God. They are chains wrought by man and by him 
wrapped around himself and kind, and cannot bind them unto 
God. 

It is every man's duty to acknowledge first his Creator, for 
all things came from this great first cause. To acknowledge 
himself a servant of circumstances is simply not acknowledg- 
ing his connection with God. 

Man not being perfect must serve, for he ever feeleth there 
is a power swaying his being over which he hath no control, 
and it becometh every man to choose whom he will serve, God 
or the fabrications of man. 

If he striveth to become a creature of circumstances, or be- 
comes careless of his individuality, his practiced wish becometh 
a reality, and in a measure he can will himself to be governed 
by every breath that fans his cheek or every word that greets 
his ear. 

Yet when he entereth or striveth to enter high affinities, the 
lower passions and propensities resulting from his own care- 
lessness are strongly tied in circumstantial affinities, and he 
hath a hard task to free himself from his voluntary servitude. 

A man doth stoop very low when he becometh every man's 
slave, or the slave of combined whims, which are termed the 
circumstances around him. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 61 

No man with good and true feelings will ever serve the pro- 
ductions of man's combined outside nature, even though. all 
save him enter into the combination. God remaineth eternally 
man's only God, and him alone shall he serve. 

All servitude is voluntary so far as the individuality of man 
is concerned. 

And man hath no right to bind his own future with present 
promises. It is right for him to progress, for thus is he cre- 
ated, and if any promise be a clog to that progression, it must 
of necessity be the opposite of the right which is established in 
his progressive nature. 

Man can only to a very limited extent control the future, for 
his knowledge thereof is very limited, and he knoweth not what 
in the future will seem best. 

Hence he should not promise that which is so much against 
his power of fulfilling as all in the future must be. 

He may in safety strive to do, but in promising positively to 
do anything, he is presuming himself perfect master of all that 
is included in the promise, and even were this the truth, the 
truth that himself is imperfect is sufficient to annihilate his 
power of positively promising. 

It is good to acknowledge God in all thy actions or doings. 
That which thou feelest right, do. If after thou hast faith- 
fully promised, thou seest there was wrong or will be wrong in 
the fulfillment, go to the one unto whom thou didst promise, 
and seek a release. If the release be not granted, and thou 
feelest still the fulfillment would be wrong, do not fulfill thy 
promise, for that was made in ignorance, and now thou hast 
learned the truth, which it were wrong to violate. 

And learn herefrom to never promise concerning that which 
is so much beyond thy control. 

Deceit is always wrong, but deceiving presupposes knowledge 
of the truth thou art covering or misrepresenting. Thou canst 
not ignorantly deceive and mayest ignorantly promise, hence 
there is a great difference between deceiving and breaking a 
promise, if thou knowest that in promising thou wert ignorant 
of the result thou didst promise. 

If thou wouldst be free, never bind thyself. If thou wouldst 



62 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

serve God, be very careful how thou dost promise to serve 
others. 

Thy individual nature must be builded by experience. Thou 
dost not enter earth with perfect wisdom, else thou need not 
enter it. To imbed desirable truths within thee, thou art 
forced, as it were, against them by thy own ambition to ascend. 

Herein again thou seest the necessity of freedom from cir- 
cumstantial control, that thou mayest at all times profit most 
by the very circumstances. 

He who floats down the tide of man's creating is not thereby 
qualified to stem the tide of God's wisdom. 

There is a warring within every man of spirit and of flesh. 

Thus it is good to be. He who hath the tides of wisdom 
and of flesh within himself, hath no need to enter outer discord 
to find that harmony is good. 

Man being a combination of all things and of God, must have 
all things and God to draw wisdom from. Through God he 
learneth all things, yet cannot through all things learn God. 

Thy ambition to ascend toward him constantly bringeth thee 
in contact with greater and still greater truths, as they seem 
unto thy growing comprehension. Truth healeth thy wounds 
and ever giveth pleasure as thou canst receive it. 

If thou wouldst know the truth in its own boundless glory, 
know thyself, and if thou wouldst know thyself, be humble be- 
fore God, and thus enable thyself to become free, for freedom 
is the great second step toward godliness. 

Every man measures freedom according to his individu- 
ality and the powers thereof, hence freedom unto all is diffe- 
rent in feeling, yet in reality is that state in which man 
knoweth himself to be only dependent upon God for all he can 
enjoy. 

Build for thyself a connection with God, and none save thee 
can sever it. Make a covenant with him to strive to do his 
will as thou feelest it to be, and thou wilt never be left in doubt 
as to thy duty. 

Think not thou canst exist and still be unworthy of his com- 
munion. 

Thou didst not produce thyself. Thou wert necessary unto 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 63 

God's glory, else thou haclst not been. As thou dost attract 
him, in the same proportion art thou attracted. 

Unto all outward laws and all outward effects there is a cor- 
responding inward law and inward cause. 

Celestial freedom doth give scope to all the powers of man, 
and he can view the operation of truths more sublime and more 
lovely in transparent wisdom than any bondman can ever behold. 

This is the distinction as drawn between celestial man and 
earthly man : the one is free to collect truths, the other is 
bound among his own errors ; the one is an individual complete 
in all his powers, the other is incomplete in all his powers. 

He that is bound of man cannot enjoy godlike freedom, and 
they who are earthly are of the earth. 

To be free, man must in all things judge for himself, and in 
his own individual ray learn wisdom. Is this not enough to 
learn in that which He hath given ? Surely no man can mea- 
sure one of God's pure words of living wisdom. 

Every child of God is, in the highest point of view, equal in 
the sight of God. They all derive from him existence, and all 
have equal claims upon him for eternal life. All have an ema- 
nation of his own spirit and a combination of his own earth 
within them. 

This being truth, no man should think himself more worthy 
of God's favorable notice than his brother, for. in the very 
thought is a seeming reproof unto God for creating a brother, 
as thou thinkest, of less capacity. 

Thou shouldst respect all men, because they are children of 
God. But more than all shouldst thou respect thyself, for if 
thou fallest none can raise thee save thyself, and thus is it with 
all others. 

True self-respect would make all respect all emanations of 
God's pure will. All are children of God, and should ail have 
privilege of developing their own powers, as within themselves 
cometh light. 

There could be no unharmonious feelings or actions if all 
were content to do right so far as they could comprehend the 
right, for right is a result of light within man, which is an 
emanation of God's own pure intelligence. 



64 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Man, by running counter to his own knowledge of the right 
as manifested unto him by his own light, loses his self-respect, 
and as a consequence ceases to respect others. 

This produces discord, for as God's pure intelligence pro- 
duceth harmony, its opposite must produce its opposite. 

Each man should be worthy of his own respect, and thus 
would he be respected by all and respect all in turn, for all 
would be worthy of it. 

Harmonious action must always be individual action. There 
are no two beings alike in all respects in the universe so far as 
man can comprehend, and for two to strive to unite in perfect 
harmony, is simply to strive to annihilate one of the two. 

When man learneth that he is indeed his own self, and 
should free his individuality from all other self in the universe, 
then will harmony be among all men. 

Then will each man seek to reveal his heavenly feelings, 
and thus all will blend in a high and holy monument of love, 
which shall reach high into the heavens, and then will the un- 
known beauties of individuality burst from this celestial column 
in rays jof clearest wisdom. 

When each and every man shall dwell in his own heaven, 
which he findeth ever too full for one to enjoy all of, and ever 
doth he send out of his pure rays, and mingle with others of 
different hues, until in the blending of celestial heavens' myriad 
gleams, the wondrous light of God appears. 

Spreading far, and illumining the myriad minds or celestial 
brain of man, is seen this wondrous light. Upon different ones 
its fall produceth different rays, which all in harmony blend, and 
all do end in God the great Eternal One. 

Individual heavens are the highest that can by individuals 
be measured, for they are the home of man's full harmony, 
wherein he becometh filled to his full extent, all powers free to 
seek the truth, to love, to grow in wisdom, to commune with 
Deity, to do all that full made man can desire. Such are 
they which man can enter, and can feel their holy pleasure, 
even whilst battling with the cares of time ! 

Noble station ! Oh man, seek and thou wilt surely find it. 

Do not think thou canst gain God's high favor if thou do not 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 65 

strive to favor thyself. Thou art so created that thou canst 
learn, and to fill thy "destiny, thou must learn, until knowledge 
is thine. 

And knowledge is limitless, yet thou canst within thy own 
limits concentrate all that can give thee pleasure, for thy being 
can be no more than full. 

To know thou must experience. Yet think not thou must 
experience all things to complete thy individuality. Thy 
earthly experience giveth thee sufficient base upon which to 
rest eternal progression in comprehension of truth. 

Application of what thou dost experience is what must give 
thee capability of progressing. Thou canst pass through num- 
berless trials and not be benefited, if they do not impress 
upon thee the goodness of their cause. 

God hath instituted trials, over which the faithful must 
triumph, for their power of triumphing is given them. The 
experience of the flesh is surely necessary unto the true spirit 
of man, else why is the spirit within it ? 

Let no man complain of his outer circumstances, but apply 
them unto the attainment of knowledge, and thank God for 
them, as well as all things else, for in this state of feeling all 
will see good produced by them. 

Man is not perfectly harmonious. Even in his individuality 
on earth there is a necessity of two existences, as it were, and 
thus until that which hath been termed the celestial indivi- 
duality is attained, trials must ever cross the path of man. 

All must learn to create within themselves a heaven, and 
thus become independent of all trials which can come to them. 

He who depends upon outer influences for happiness will 
never find it. 

God did create the heavens and the earth for man, and is 
not man in his image ? God did create his own heaven, and so 
must man, or never enter upon his highest and holiest freedom. 

God did create the earth, and it is so created that man can 
within his body find his own earth, and from it draw most 
rational pleasure. It is a paradise, in whose shady groves 
angels love to linger. A sweet home to the body of the true 
man, as is heaven to the true man's spirit. 



DO THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Action is eternal, and, being eternal, must be eternally 
good. 

Man does not enter a future home fraught with beauties 
and pleasures, which fall upon his celestial sense unsought. 
No, God doth create, and so must man ! In creating the hea- 
vens and the earth, and in making man in his image, God did 
make both cause and effect, .Himself and all upon which he 
labored. 

Man must create within the boundary of his own universe a 
heaven and an earth, and it must be in the image of all hea- 
vens and all earths, as the atom is unto immensity. 

Boundless being ! Thou art only bounded by thy own holy 
wisdom and love ! And yet is individual man in his own little 
wisdom, and his own little love, an atomic image of thee ! 

His own heaven is ever boundless in conception, yet ever 
bounded by his comprehension. Thus ever led, and ever by 
truth surrounded, he journeys on in an eternal round of plea- 
sure, which doth emanate from thee, oh God ! as a drop of 
sparkling glory. 

Upon the earth it falls, and whether it cherisheth the sweet- 
scented flower, or giveth drink unto the thirsty sand, the night 
cometh, followed by a morning sun, which lifts its sparkling 
brightness far above the lowly bed, and sends it on to thee, on 
and still onward, and ever upward toward the fountain whence 
it dropped. 

Love doth have affinity for love, however high or low, love 
is but love, which cannot be told, but which God hath kindly 
given man power to feel, and which in heaven doth ever seal 
his own high mandates. 

And wisdom doth love reveal. That which all can feel can 
only by universal wisdom be controlled, and in such expres- 
sions moulded, as boundless universal feeling requireth. 

Within the transparent depths of these holy fountains is the 
feeling of happiness. 

The heart of the great I AM doth outward send these living 
streams, and all his children feel the throbbing within each 
and every breast. 

Love doth yearn for love, and wisdom doth seek still greater 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 67 

food. They who do not love cannot be happy, neither can the 
foolish understand the untasted sweets of true knowledge. 

Oh man, thou must love in thine imperfection, even as 
Deity in perfection loveth. Love all things, not for them- 
selves, but because they are all representatives of the love of 
God who made them. 

Let thy attributes be love and wisdom. Be thou a disciple 
of God's light, which quickeneth every spirit that entereth 
earth, and from the quickening unto the consummation, doth 
stay and strengthen each humble child. 

Never wander darkling in thy own shadows, but in the light 
search thyself for knowledge of greatest truths. God doth 
never require uncertain action. 

Every planet, sun and star doth have its course and certain 
action ; every tree and plant, every drop of water and every 
atom of sand upon the entrance of eternity, all do have their 
daily labor and must accomplish it. 

And thought doth tread its daily path, guided by the light 
of which it is an emanation. The mind of Jehovah doth over- 
shadow, blend and surround all in its great eternal thoughts, 
which must be perfect. 

And thou, too, oh, man ! to merit thy high name must ever 
act, and in every act glorify Him who sent thee. 

Do as thou feelest right in doing, never fearing thou mayest 
be wrong, for right feelings are never fruits of wrong doings. 

Search all things thou canst. It is always to thy advantage to 
know thy own truths concerning all things thou meetest in life. 

Lead a practical life. No one else can learn for thee. 

To be an individual and to have thy own heaven, thou must 
become one being in the image of the one who made thee. 

The combination of numberless indistinct beings is as a vast 
undefined and undefinable sea, from which it is difficult to 
escape if once 'tis entered. 

In this sea thousands live a drowning existence. They have 
a few independent ideas, sufficient to make it known that there 
are images of true individuality in the sea, but not enough to 
stand up firm and steadfast as a living column in the midst of 
the rolling waves. 



68 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Yet it were far better thus to stand up firm upon thy own 
bottom, and from each wave gather knowledge of the contents 
of this sea, than to be tossed about upon the combined elements 
of the sea, knowing only that thou wert living in vain. 

The tree that hath stood upon the plain alone hath strength 
that can withstand the tempest. It will bow low before the 
threatening storm, and shape itself to suit the force of the 
blast. 

The winds may blow upon it but it is firmly and deeply rooted 
in the earth, it has learned in a school wherein truth alone is 
taught, and every root is equal unto the strength required of it. 

It hath never been weakened by dependence. It stands a 
firm and upright shaft, a column erected unto the eternal truth 
that the greatest strength lieth in self-reliance. 

The forest in a mass is strong, yet separated how weak is 
every tree. And if the tempest enter its crowded weakness, 
its combined tops, with roots most weak, the trees fall before 
the blast twisted and torn in every direction, yet upon the 
plain standeth the noble one which by itself hath stood. 

And the forest is like unto those who cannot stand alone 
among mankind. They run up high above the things of earth 
and support each other, but such support cannot withstand the 
tempest shock, and ofttimes are the dependent host laid low in 
ruin by blasts of error their union hath generated. 

They spurn the earth, and seek not to enter it and thus form 
roots that shall coil among the firmly bedded truths thereof 
and hold them up, but each one seeks to raise his silly head 
above his neighbor, thus making his fall the greater when his 
time is done. 

He who stands alone upon the plain or hill-top, doth gather 
from the dewy eve and morning sun a rich and living foliage 
that doth shelter all beneath his branches. 

Birds carol in his leaves, and beneath his spreading branches 
children play. And in the sultry noon the tired harvester lies 
upon the ground, his head supported by his own made sheaf, and 
free from care sleeps and rests. 

All who come near his cooling shade partake of refreshing 
truths. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 69 

Plain and strong, yet when viewed by the weary and way- 
worn traveler upon the plains of time, oh ! how welcome is such 
a truthful tree, such a noble man ! 

The lightest zephyrs stir the leafy foliage, and the fiercest 
hurricane can never break the sturdy shaft. 

How noble in the sight of God must he be who dares to fill 
full his own ideas of duty and remain untrammeled by any 
other idea. Such are, indeed, like unto the lone tree which 
in its own strength and beauty firmly stands a lovely witness 
unto the goodness of independence. 

Every thing God hath created is subject and food for the 
thought of man. And his action of body can be as varied as 
action of thought. Both mind and body should harmonize in 
an active life, else man cannot become an individual indepen- 
dent being. 

Think not thou canst learn without reflection any more than 
thou canst develope thy muscles without exercising them. 

Send deep thy roots and high thy branches, and for every 
branch see thou hast a root in the earth to correspond, else 
when the tempest of trial cometh thou wilt fall. Such tem- 
pests are necessary in thy nature, for thou art of earth, and, 
as the earth, must at all times be shaken by storms. 

Yet within thee is that which as the bright sun-light fol- 
lows the storm and upon the receding cloud forms the spark- 
ling bow of promise. 



CHAPTER Y. 



CONTENTMENT AGAINST PROGRESSION— LIFE'S SHADOWS- 
DARKNESS THE CROSS— MAN, GOD'S PLEASURE GROUND. 



Let all thy actions be as thou feelest good. Yet good is in 
every form and shape of being. Thou needst not strive to 
always act alike in any respect, save that thy object be doing 
good, for at no two moments of thy existence canst thou be 
alike. 

Be always free but never careless. Be happy if thou canst. 

Thou canst not be contented. God did make thee progres- 
sive, and to be content thou wouldst have to change thy nature 
from that which he designed it to be. 

Thou canst be seeking to progress, but he who is content 
will never seek. Progression is a result of labor or striving, 
and hence it is weak to say, "I am contented to progress." 

He who saith "lam contented," doth merely say, "my 
nature is annihilated." And to be willing to progress is to carry 
out that will in progressing, thus filling the nature manifest in 
all men, and which is the direct enemy of contentment. 

Do not seek to be content but seek to progress. Seek know- 
ledge of God's ways, knowledge of love, knowledge of the ope- 
ration of that which giveth knowledge of good, thy own light 
within thee. 

Until God is found of thee be never contented, lest it breed 
idleness and carelessness, and thou lose the race. Push on in 
the light. Love not idly or carelessly, but let the fruits of thy 
love be actions which benefit man. 
• Work steadily onward and upward toward God. 

Thou didst germinate with him for being among things be- 
low thee, having within thyself that which is above all things, 
the conception of them, thou must have come from that which 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 71 

is eternally above thee, and as thou art progressive, there can 
be but one being above thee, who must be perfect, because thou 
art imperfect. 

Not producing thyself, yet being, thou shouldst seek to 
know thy highest good in knowing this good cause of thyself. 
Thy race is eternal ; necessarily so, for thou dost dwell 
within a perfect circle, whose boundary thou canst never find. 
Within thee is a centre and a central fountain, whence flow es- 
sences that can only in operation be felt. 

They are thee. And as thee, are eternally fruits of the One 
whence thou earnest. 

Life floweth out in action as light floweth into man. 
Light is the great stimulator of man's intelligence, encou- 
raging him eternally. Love is the great desiring essence which 
giveth unto man the thirst contained in that desire which 
maketh him to seek. 

The centre of man is his idea of God. This is his inmost 
centre, within which nothing can get, his inherent, impene- 
trable and immovable idea of his own cause. 

To seek this cause love desireth and light doth stimulate. 
All things are searched by man to fill full this vast and 
eternal yearning, which might be likened unto a reservoir which 
only perfection could fill, and which in perfect wisdom was 
good so to be. 

Thus contentment is not in the nature of man, and thus did 
it seem good. Oh, how great is thy imperfection ! even as God 
is great in perfect attributes, so art thou, oh man, great in im- 
perfect qualities. 

Thou didst search among outward things for contentment, and 
art searching for that which is not in existence, and of course 
thou canst not find it. 

Learn, from what thy senses daily feel, that eternal change 
is eternally written within the being of all things. 

Gradually the sun ariseth from the horizon in the morning 
of light, and appears to ascend to his meridian or middle 
height, and as he riseth the shadows around the objects of earth 
become smaller and smaller, until within itself each one seem- 
eth to have no shadow at all, as he looks down upon them from 
his exalted height. 



72 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Passing the eentral line, the shadows turn upon the side 
that before was light, and the sight revealeth that which was 
dark before, bright and beautiful, as illuminated by the de- 
scending rays. 

The end seemeth as the beginning. The sun shineth upon 
the hills in the evening, and long deep shadows fill the vale 
upon the opposite side, he goeth down from view into apparent 
death or annihilation. 

Such is the life of man. In the dewy morning he is fresh 
and pure, and all is lovely and beautiful to his innocent eye. 

The shadows are behind all objects, and only their bright 
surfaces visible. As the day grows strong he approacheth his 
middle point, and beneath all things can see the concealed of 
former days in their shadows. 

And now in descending to the outward gate, he looks back 
and knoweth that though the surfaces of all things are very 
bright and lovely, yet beneath and behind them are deep dark 
shadows. 

He who vieweth life thus, and seeketh only to learn from all 
things their plainest and simplest truths, will clearly see that 
himself hath an inward and eternal sun, which ever changeth 
toward purity, yet ever shineth, and within his earthly nature 
will find that which maketh the shadows in his valley of death. 

Imitate the sun. Make all bright thou dost look upon, and 
the eternal brightness illuminate thyself still more. 

There must be shadows in thee and around thy pathway in 
life's commencement, because thou art composed outwardly of 
dense materials. 

Thy inward sun doth send outward streams of light, which, 
in moving around thy animal body's qualities, must make sha- 
dows which must vary and change, even as thou seest in out- 
ward nature, for thou art a condensation thereof so far as the 
body is concerned. 

Thus behold thyself a sun and earth combined, and in thy 
trusting, truthful, hopeful night, behold thou art beautified by 
the soft beams of thine own little circling planet, which ever 
keeps its bright surface to thee, else remains invisible. 

Learn lessons of life from life in outward nature. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 73 

Do not step over truths which are gigantic in simple purity, 
and amid the darkened spray of night search for glory. Learn 
from thy view of things what they are and what intended to be. 

In the days of innocent childhood the bright and shining 
sun is considered small, very small compared with the mount- 
ains of earth, yet in age how is the case reversed. 

So in thee, oh man, behold the progress of truth. A germ 
of heavenly brightness sparkles within thee and all around 
shadows forth huge mountains which startle and astonish thee. 
As the germ groweth, the mountains are seen dwindling and 
ever dwindling until thou art far above all, and their shadows 
lie beneath thee. 

The day wanes, and toward its close behold thou hast 
learned that thy sparkling sun lighteth on to eternal day, and 
the little earth hath receded into earth whence it came. 

There are glorious truths couched within the daily experi- 
ence of every man, yet how few profit by them. 

The learned man can view the harmonious motion and qual- 
ities of the heavenly bodies, and from them reap wisdom. 

The unlearned man views the brilliant ball of fire as it daily 
traverses the vault above, and can learn from his little observ- 
ations true and most exalted wisdom. 

God did make the heavens and the earth, and all is in har- 
mony therein and thereon when viewed by the light he hath 
given unto man. 

In the daily course of life man walketh among truths so ex- 
ceeding plain and simple that the wayfarer cannot err therein. 

There is a holy emanation from all natural things, a tone 
unto which the spirit of man can listen, and from it learn of 
things relating unto God. 

How careless is man of his time ! Truths greet him at every 
step, yet, unheeding, falls over them and goeth on and falls 
again, until almost discouraged and tired of life. He who 
seeks for wisdom will first seek to know why he must fall, and 
thus in seeking causes avoid effects. 

Learn from the earth to go thy daily rounds, always having 
the great propelling and sustaining power within thy central 
sun. 

6 



74 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

And oh,*"remember, this sun is thy own highest idea of God, 
which, as thou dost measure for thyself, must be his highest 
idea of thee. 

Thou cannot deceive thyself save by willful perversion, and 
as thou art in reality, and not in appearance, doth God see 
thee, for this doth truth demand, and surely God can have no 
affinity for error. 

Learn of truth. Thou art a truth, and of a divine truth 
did receive existence. • Thou dost live on and among truthful 
witnesses, and hath within thee the light of truth in and by 
which to view all things. Then how canst thou escape the 
truth which revealeth all things unto God. 

Thou dost breathe truths, dost eat them, they quench thy 
thirst ; thou dost hear them, see them, and must eternally feel 
them by and with all thy powers of feeling, and however igno- 
rant thou art, from them thou must learn wisdom. 

God hath placed thee among effects, results of truthful 
essences, of which in their refinement he is the great cause, that 
thou mayest learn from these examples to seek the cause of 
them. 

Thou dost view the majestic mountain, the rolling sea, the 
level plain and mighty river ; thou dost see the forest, the 
flowery meadow, or the simple little rose blooming beside thee, 
and dost ask, " Whence came your strength and beauty ?" 

It is the love of God within thee which maketh thee to de- 
sire, and, desiring knowledge, thou dost ever seek to find it. 

Light giveth life. This thou must know, if thou hast ever 
seen the barrenness of darkness. Color cometh from the 
mingling of light and darkness, and beauty is its child. 

Thou art of the same light and darkness composed, in thy 
measure filled, as the rose or little blade of grass beneath thy 
rambling feet. Thou hast color, thou art beautiful ; and as 
the rose or blade of grass, thou dost from the brilliant stream 
of light receive thy life. 

Within the depths of this pure sea of light are myriad in- 
termingling beams or currents of life, and beast, bird, fish and 
insect ; God, man and angels pure, all mingle with all, and in 
the ebbing and flowing tides emit rays of holiest glory. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 75 

Darkness is the cross of man. That which in wisdom he 
must bear on earth, and therein and therefrom learn the bit- 
terness of his own earthly nature. He must see the bitterness 
sweet, inasmuch as it leadeth unto a fuller appreciation of the 
gift of life. 

Thou must drink of thy own dregs, that God's sweet food 
may be known in all its richness. And thy dregs are thy 
safeguards on the road to the mountain's top, whereon shineth 
eternal light. 

Carry thy cross. God did lash it fast upon thee, and it is 
good. 

Carry it even to the top of life's mountain, and at the high- 
est point thou canst attain plant it firm, and upon it die the 
outward death. Though the darkness may enshroud the earth, 
and earthquakes rend its surface, walk thy bitter way and 
drink as God giveth unto thee, even though it be gall and 
wormwood. 

Thou must learn God to be good in all his ways ; thou must 
learn goodness to be in all he doeth or can do ; thou must earn 
thy crown of glory by labor on earth. 

Darkness must precede thy light. This is proven by the 
truth that thou didst not always exist, and surely not existing, 
must be the perfection of darkness ; and, as life cometh from 
light, which is God's refined intelligence, thou must overcome 
thy darkness by the light. 

The overcoming is thy cross. Thou must overcome the earth 
in thy nature. Creation within thee is thy heaven and thy 
earth. God doth light thy void, and thou dost exist. Thy 
heaven seeketh His heaven, and thy earth seeketh His earth. 
The one is ever above thee, the other ever below thee, yet thou 
art in affinity with both God and earth. 

Thou knowest God is not below thee, and that the earth is 
below thy high aspirations, and herein is the cross; thou must 
in earth know of heaven. Thou must be in affinity with God, 
yet know thou art of earth. 

It is a cross to know that though untold sweetness surrounds 
thee, thou must not partake. It is a cross to know thy God 
is in and all around thee, yet thou canst not see. To know 



76 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

thou art his child, yet to feel most unworthy. To seek, yet 
find not. 

And if thus thou suffer upon the cross, is this not thy 
mission ? 

For this wert thou created, not that thou shouldst suffer,' but 
that thou shouldst learn all God doeth to be good by the crea- 
tion within thee. 

Thou art as yet in affinity with earth, and as the earth must 
have thy day and night, thy sunshine and shower, gentle 
zephyrs and howling storms, calm and earthquake, all that 
racks the earth must in thy earth torture thee. 

Dost thou not know that without the night, the storm and 
the earthquake, the harmony produced would not result ? They 
are the swift-winged regulators of the elements around the 
earth, from whose violent action cometh good unto all objects 
upon its surface. 

When thou art rent and torn by the elements around thee, re- 
member that thou art of earth, and that the earth loveth its own. 

When the elements smile upon thee, and gentle zephyrs 
beckon thee to the sweet and shady retreats of earth, remem- 
ber they are all of earth, and ere thou art sated with their 
apparent richness, they will fade, change and pass away. 

For this were they made, because this they do, having no 
power of doing, save as intended by Deity in their creation. 

Control thy earth, and thus learn to control thy heaven. 

Guard all thy actions in the present, and thy future will free 
thee from its control. 

Guide thy earth through thy space during the allotted pe- 
riod for its duration, which is with thee to shorten or lengthen, 
for thou art capable of receiving knowledge therefrom to a 
given extent, which must be filled, before thou canst leave it, 
or it leave thee. 

Heaven and earth being fruits of one hand, must be one in 
design and consummation. What one maketh, must by one 
be enjoyed, for such doth harmony demand. 

He that would attempt to place an impassable barrier be- 
tween heaven and earth, hath a very limited conception of them 
both. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 77 

Never strive to separate that which God hath joined, hap- 
piness and its cause. 

As the earth doth in all phases prove the goodness of its 
connection with the cause of its illumination, as the fruits upon 
its surface prove in their varied goodness that light giveth 
them all which they reflect unto man, so shouldst thou, oh 
man, prove by thy illumination from within, and thy lovely 
fruits produced from without, that between thee and thy great 
central sun there is no barrier ; that harmony and thou art 
one ; that between thy earth and heaven is perfect peace. 

Never have discord within thy own household. Let thy 
earth revolve as the controlling power shall guide, knowing 
that if thou dost rightly desire, thou wilt never get beyond the 
line of duty. 

Thou hast almost numberless desires, which, if guided by a 
loose hand, will present so many different paths to thy view, 
that thou wilt lose valuable time in discussing which to take. 
It were better to keep thy whole being under command of one 
supreme desire, and let that desire be to seek and obtain knowl- 
edge of God. 

Of what else couldst thou obtain knowledge ? Is not God 
beginning and ending of all things ? If not, what is ? 

Thy beginning and ending are positive, and thy existence 
a truth which thou believest, yet thou art comparative, and 
hence cannot comprehend thy own beginning, nor yet ending. 

Great God ! Thou art the beginning and ending of our 
existence ! Between whose incomprehensible points we ever 
vibrate, only comprehending that we have happiness, which 
thou gavest, yet ignorant why thou gave. 

All is in and of thee. Thus doth all feeling teach, and such 
feeling is ever beyond the expressions in which lower thoughts 
are wont to ride. All know thee, oh God, as all that can be 
known. 

Amid lovely truths, whose beauties but partly compre- 
hended, fill with rapture thy beholding child, hast thou placed 
him. 

And is this hallowed feeling of earth ? or by earth pro- 
duced ? Is this consciousness of holy presence a dead result 



78 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

from dust produced ? Oh, man ! Thou knowest there is ever 
that within thee which is still ever above the highest thou feel- 
est to be of, and one with thy individual self. 

Thus behold thy earth blending with thy heaven. The lines 
do blend and mingle, and so merge within one another that 
none save God could distinguish between them. 

There can be no existence separate and distinct from God, 
and no existence which is isolated from all other existences. 

Unto the wise, existence presents a plane, whose ends in 
earth and heaven are termed God. Commencing below the 
point of man's comprehension, is seen the fruit of life. It 
grows, changes, adds and advances, until the glorious height 
of man is reached. He sits upon the highest point himself 
can see, yet knoweth there is a beyond, an eternal beyond, 
which must ever seem the end of his holiest desire. 

And the plan is perfect. An eternal spiral which doth all 
things move with perfect motion. There is no jar or discord, 
for a perfect One did form all in perfect wisdom. 

Then why should man suppose that himself is an exception 
in this wise plan ? Why suppose that his earthly self and his 
heavenly self are distinct and separate existences ? 

To separate any one existence from all existences, or the 
fount of all existence, would be to annihilate that separated. 

And surely there ean be nothing annihilated, for the plan 
of creation must be perfect, and have no room or vacant 
spa^e which fa not more wisely employed than to become a 
storehouse for the remnants of things which had once been 
good. 

Harmony and affinity join, and. regulate all things in such 
manner as unto man's comprehension seemeth perfect. 

And T man is the embodiment of harmony, and in affinity 
unto all whence he is embodied. 

The great primeval tone of existence vibrates within man's 
inmost depths, and from this centml reservoir of living mel- 
ody do avenues extend unto all things, and all things do 
,vibrate in, unison unto the tone. >God doth unto man give 
jknowledge of a$i things, and through all things doth man gain 
feiowledge, ,of .his <God. 






THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 79 

God is beginning and ending. Such hath wisdom always 
taught, such hath man believed. 

The most wise have always felt most humble, and in all 
things most dependent upon their own great and incomprehen- 
sible cause. 

Surely he who knoweth his own littleness, will most humbly 
acknowledge God's greatness. And oh, how very small unto 
the truly wise man seemeth his own wisdom I Every step, 
every breath, every moment of time do each and every one 
new truths and lovely thoughts unfold, until, in contemplation 
of thy goodness, oh God ! his spirit feeleth almost unworthy 
of the existence thou gave. 

He who doth humbly contemplate Thee in thy works with- 
out, or who views Thee in refinement within himself, oh God ! 
such an one is on the path where thine eye loveth to linger. 

Such an one doth walk and sit beside thee. Such an one 
doth unknowingly receive from thee ample reward for such 
humility. 

How little to presume to stand alone unheeding upon whose 
ground thou standest. Oh man, didst thou fully comprehend 
thy own weakness, the very small part of truths thou dost 
know, would as a germ of greater capacity produce for thee 
more abundant fruit. 

And thou canst eternally learn. Between the beginning 
and ending art thou placed in that which, uncomprehended, is 
perfect void, and which, when comprehended, is God's perfect 
wisdom. 

Such is thy destiny. Thou didst come from and art jour- 
neying to God. God is and is to be. Thou art, thou dost 
exist. Upon this firm base rest thee, and with thy vision seek 
to pierce the infinite beyond. 

Why art thou seeking ? Thou canst not help it. Man 
cannot sit content with knowing he is and is to be. He was 
not thus created. He who will seek to know why he con- 
stantly yearneth after that above, will ever learn that which 
cannot be unlearned. 

Man was not created satisfied. How could he be fruit of 
perfection, yet with imperfection be satisfied ? 



80 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Did not God give man all that could be given, when in him 
he united earth and heaven ? The more wise man becomes, 
the more wisdom is seen in his own construction, and may we 
not from this infer that the creature man was, and is all that 
God in perfect wisdom designed ? 

And if God created man's dissatisfaction, surely it must in 
its highest state be good. 

Then, oh man, if thou canst not be satisfied, learn to train 
thy nature, so that the fruits of thy seeking shall be happiness. 

Do not imagine that happiness is any fixed state of exist- 
ence, for it is a habitation of thy own building, it takes thy 
own shape, changes as thou dost change, is satisfied only so 
long as thou art. 

Thy happiness does demand that no fixed thing thou canst 
limit should please thee. Thou art all progressive, and thy 
little happiness doth only please thee as it passeth through 

thvself. 

«/ 

To render thee happy, thou art created to seek to know all 
things, and so created that God thou canst not fully know with 
all thy seeking. 

Thou canst not live in happiness with an object, to strive to 
obtain which can fully be obtained. Hence, thou shouldst 
learn from thy constant dissatisfaction to seek God in all 
things, for him thou knowest to be unattainable. 

And when thou dost commence with asking why thou dost 
ask, the wisest answer thou canst find, the answer unto which 
all other answers lead, is — " God did thus create me." 

And why did God thus create thee ? His own happiness 
demanded such a being. Thou art God's pleasure ground, 
oh man ! He doth enjoy thee in the same proportion as thou 
dost enjoy him. He giveth all unto thee, yet in receiving 
humbly and thankfully, thou dost amply reward him for thy gift. 

God cannot certainly create, without in the creation receiv- 
ing compensation. All things emanating from Him must be 
perfectly balanced. And what doth balance man's highest 
desire, save his own highest happiness received ? 

That which man doth hope to receive, doth in the hoping 
give more happiness than that termed the reality. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 81 

Man constantly forgets that the invisible to outer eyes is 
the real and enduring ; that is, it remaineth visible when his 
outer vision is dispensed with forever, and hence he grasps at 
outer substances, which can never satisfy the inward yearnings 
of his spirit. 

God created these yearnings, that thou could not be satisfied 
with knowing or feeling thy own existence. Thou must de- 
sire, and he did know thy being was so formed that the termina- 
tion of all desires must be a greater knowledge of His love for thee. 

Herein art thou His pleasure ground, so to speak, for He 
knoweth thy every desire, seeth every fulfillment giveth thee 
still greater desires, and his own divine hand traileth the ten- 
der plants as himself seeth best. 

Does this annihilate thy independence of spirit ? Thy spirit 
did not create itself, and hence should never claim perfect in- 
dependence, and thou shouldst remember that the greatest 
independence is a dependence upon the greatest. 

God in enjoying thee, must give thee enjoyment. Thou 
canst lose nothing by his communion. 

Thoughts emanating from holy aspirations, and ending in 
good actions, are a great blessing unto the receiver of them. 

Thou must enter where thoughts assume a living shape and 
form ; thou must become invisible to outer things to fully enter 
heaven. Remember, that all happiness for man is spiritual, 
and consequently unto flesh invisible. 

When thy outside nature seeketh to obtain outside sub- 
stance, and thinketh it constitute happiness, thou wilt in- 
variably find that the supposed happiness is indeed outside of 
thee and cannot be enjoyed. 

When thou art fully convinced by thy own experience that 
happiness is a reality, which can be formed and moulded by 
thy own organization, and not an indefinite something entirely 
independent of thee, then thou wilt begin a truly rational life, 
then wilt thou enter heaven. 

Guard well thy ideals. When seeking anything, ask always 
why thou art seeking, and thus know all things connected with 
thy actions. Build no edifice to outside worshipers ; such 
actions would not enhance thy happiness. 



CHAPTER VI 



HAPPINESS, A VISION— ETERNAL LIFE ETERNAL STRIFE- 
EYE THE LIGHT— GOD THE CENTRAL IDEA. 

Build not upon earth thy ideal heaven, but in the pure 
realms of holiness seek to enter. Strive to hasten thy upward 
progress, and thou wilt ever find that heavenly happiness is 
strewn along thy pathway. 

Oh hold fast to that eternal light, in whose shadows time 
hath placed thee. Leave the shadows of the dark valley, and 
the objects which shut out the light, and seek only the pure 
light itself beyond them all. 

Go not blindly along thy way. Thou knowest thou art, 
thou dost exist, and from this base start upward in thy end- 
less path toward perfect wisdom. 

Thou art created, and God did for his own happiness create 
thee. Surely if thou art a ministering angel unto the happi- 
ness of thy God, thou canst be thyself most happy. 

Look upward with thy spiritual eyes and behold the regions 
of joy, of love and of light which are yet to be learned ! The 
numberless causes of thy happiness, love and truth must all be 
learned, as thou dost journey inward toward the fountain. 

Thou must learn how God doth create his own happiness 
through thee. Thy own happiness must become known and 
understood, as well as felt. 

Feeling happiness is joy, understanding happiness is wisdom, 
giving unto others happiness is the exercise of love. 

Thy own happiness, or unhappiness, is wrapped within all thou 
doest. Every action, however small, every thought, however 
trifling, has a direct bearing upon thy own happiness. 

If thou art necessary unto God's happiness, thy being, when 
most happy, must render him most return for thy existence, 
for there is eternal affinity between cause and effect. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 83 

Opening upon my inner vision is a vast and boundless space, 
within whose borders do come and go the swift-winged messen- 
gers of God's love. 

Afar and near the tranquil atmosphere seemeth all alive and 
glowing with joyful gleams of celestial splendor. 

The sweet essences of dense virtues seem herein to dwell, 
as dwell within the outward worlds the outward truths of God. 

Herein dwelleth all of which the outward is but witness. 
Love doth live. Light doth teach. Truth doth dwell in all 
things, for all things are truths, and in this new home, seen by 
newly illumined eyes, all are living realities. 

Harmonial incense seemeth a fixed thing; and prayerful 
aspirations are growing fruitful vines, ever ascending and en- 
twining as they do ascend new and lovely truths. 

Herein are heavens builded. Man doth shape within this 
void his pathway, and treadeth on toward the end, his being 
fixeth in the dim happiness beyond. 

However varied may be the view of the multitude, each and 
every one must see and feel fulfillments more perfect than 
could be anticipated. 

As the view extends, so extends the viewed, and in the end- 
less vision of our God is the end of vision centered. 

Where we must ever learn, our spirits ever burn with de- 
sires eternal. Therein we must ever find the balm, which 
alone can quench that which God alone hath lighted, His own 
pure love. 

Amid the groves of my own sweet heaven do I linger, and 
listen unto strains whose joyous freedom have loosed my soul 
from bondage. 

Airs laden with untold melody greet mine ear, and my in- 
ward feeling doth taste of living sounds. Rich, ripe tones 
do fill my being with life, life new and pure as that which 
smiles through the parted lips of the sleeping babe. 

And I do hunger. Sweet milk, from founts of holy wisdom, 
sate my craving thirst with food congenial unto my taste. 

Every desire doth seem to bear upon its branches fruit, full 
and round. And within this fruit do seed abound, which mul- 
tiply again in heavenly round my pleasures and my wisdom. 



84 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Is this not real ? Is this hallowed feeling all untruth ? 
Then truth, what art thou ? Oh, who can portray the purity, 
that as a mightier sun, shall shade the heaven I have builded ? 

Yet so it is. Even as I do partake of this sweet food, and 
listen to these pure tones within my spirit, the food is growing 
and the tones vibrating. 

A desire is fulfilled, and in its death doth nourish seed which 
shall live as God the creator liveth. 

Eternal life is in man an eternal strife. 

Strive we must. Heaven is only a name, and its meaning 
is boundless unto all, yet unto all is bounded by the circum- 
ference of strife. 

Reclining in freedom upon the truths my labor hath col- 
lected, I feel the happiness which truth in growing giveth. 

All truths are perfect parts of the one perfect. 

All heavens are truths, in different degrees of expansion. 

All heavens are simply existing comprehensions. 

God's heaven must be God's existence, his truth, his all, 
Himself. 

Man's heaven is within God's existence, truth, and wisdom, 
which is the understanding of the truth. 

Then the highest heaven must be that which understands 
God's existence. 

Herein is the eternal field for strife. 

The strife must be eternal. It is prompted by no dying or 
changing attribute ; is executed by no unstable motive poAver. 

Strife is permanent. It is a result of man's spiritual nature, 
which was by God constructed as it is. 

In heaven all are striving as on earth. Principles, essences, 
virtues, all are eternal and eternally unchangeable, being perfect. 

He who is created to learn or love, is also supplied with 
something to learn and to love. 

He who follows the light must eternally find so much as 
shall eternally make him thirst for more. 

Oh, man! Understand thyself. All within thee liveth. 
Search the records of thy own experience, and learn from thy 
every step that eternal truth and thou are within one and the 
same being. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 85 

Ob, thou art indeed a germ of godlike affinities. 

Thy littleness is only surpassed by God's greatness, and 
thou art ever growing, then measure if thou canst the end. 

As comprehension groweth in heayen, so doth beaven ap- 
pear to grow. As the combining powers of spiritual existence 
mingle, interchange and vary, a new beavenly happiness is 
ever growing, and giving in its growth joy and wisdom. 

Every idea, conception, and every aspiration of man are 
rays, whose glory, like the rainbow, is bright to behold, yet 
never seen twice alike. 

The idea, conception or aspiration remain, for they are, but 
man it is that changes. 

As a sun of myriad rays do the beams of man's intelligence, 
in their concentrating, form the focal or crossing point, and 
from this point, or central sun, does man behold the universe 
illumined. 

He cannot get outside of his destiny. He is within himself, 
and within himself is his own universe, and all things, whether 
in heaven or of earth, are seen by himself through his own 
portion of God's freely bestowed light. 

God, the great illumined center, appears stationary. Man 
revolves in his universe a bright and shining star, whose mag- 
nitude is his own attracted brightness, and whose brightness is 
his own affinity for the center. 

The revolving star sends out its rays, which mingle as they 
shine with the more gorgeous rays of the distant central cause, 
and in its ever-turning intelligence, the little center learneth 
new and lovely truths from contact with its cause. 

The light of God within the spirit ever draweth man toward 
Himself. It is the center, around which man as an existence 
revolves, and by constantly mingling his own denser rays with 
this light, he cometh ever nearer its purity. 

As a bather in a limpid stream, he becometh cleansed of his 
lower affinities, and prepared for purer waters. 

The light of Deity doth penetrate every household. 

The love which beameth in the intelligent eye of the affec- 
tionate child ; the light of the orator's eye, as his soul is fired 
with celestial wisdom ; the enraptured gaze of poet ; all be- 
speak the presence of this hallowed light of God. 



00 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Oh man, keep thy eye ever toward this Jight. Heaven's 
own purity is only resulting reflections of its eternal luster. 
The love which quickens all things hath birth within the hid- 
den beauties of its glorious depths, and all enjoyments of God's 
children are combined and combining rays of this great 
fountain. 

Every motive, every wish thou hast is traceable unto some 
hidden cause within thy central sun. It quickeneth thy void, 
and within thee are created sun, moon and stars, and all are 
peopled with what thou shalt fancy. 

Thou art an image of the universe, and the universal God. 

Thou art an embodiment of heaven's joy. Thou art the 
second in glory, the son of God. 

Wouldst thou be first? Wouldst thou know and do all 
things ? Wouldst thou stand side by side with Jehovah his 
equal ? Wouldst thou be greater than He ? Wouldst thou 
make God thy servant ? 

If thou wouldst be all and do all, remember thou must 
always be, and always do. Thou must do all unto all eternity 
that thou canst. Thou must take thy daily task, and faith- 
fully perform it. If thou would make God thy servant, be 
thou his. If thou would stand side by side with Him, attract 
Him. If thou would be greater than He, remember that hu- 
mility is the first step toward true greatness, or greatness in 
truth. 

There are realms wherein vision is feasted with all that 
vision can crave. There are realms in which melody liveth, 
an# tones do grow. There are realms, wherein love in its 
purest form reigneth, and wherein wisdom, purely arrayed in 
spotless white, doth dwell. 

The blooming buds of divine love, implanted upon earthly 
stalks, and quickened by the white-robed wisdom of God, aspire 
ever upward. 

Thus do I learn, as within my own heaven I enter, and thus 
am I taught by the attributes of Him whom I adore. 

A voice proclaimeth, thou shalt in all things seek thy God. 
Thy earth was good, but unto thee hath ceased. Thy task is 
finished and reward begun. Thy first fruits are ripe. Thou 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 87 

art free, go and do whatsoever thou wilt ; there is no trans- 
gression in heaven. 

As a bird seeketh its home, as light glances through space, 
so does my spirit fly upward and onward toward my own eter- 
nal home. 

I have lived in harmony with all things, and God in all 
things hath blessed me. Time doth not measure eternity. 
Thought in heaven is its own fulfillment. Light is every- 
where, and love dwelleth with God in all. 

A bud or blossom is as mysterious and as simple as the uni- 
verse, for God in all his glory is there. 

Oh, what is God ? Thus does my enraptured spirit query, 
as newly-opened truths expand my view. " What is He not ?" 
And as I query, a glorious beam of hallowed joy doth seem to 
penetrate my inmost soul. 

Joy unspeakable. An holy stillness hath hushed my spirit 
into rest, and all is beautiful and lovely to my gaze. A pres- 
ence doth seem to fill w T ith luminous rays my inner life and 
quickens new seed, seed newly born in this new eternal 
morning. 

Thus do heavenly feelings enwrap the soul of man. The 
seeking spirit when first set free, when its first ripe fruits are 
given, can scarcely realize the mighty effects of such little 
causes. 

God worketh his own perfect works, and as man in fulfill- 
ment of His glorious designs doth perform his highest duty, 
the fruit of all his powers become ripe, and full of richness 
unto his taste. 

God giveth man his freedom in His own. His joy, His all, 
as man doth understand the gift. 

All heavens are God's heaven. 

Each little one doth minister in its growing beauty unto all, 
through God. 

Tranquil stillness is the state in which the spirit loveth to 
linger. "Peace, be still," is as oil upon the turbulent waters 
poured, and a serene calmness doth dwell within and around 
the spirit of man. 

"Peace, be still." At these words, which break forth upon 



88 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

the rushing and rolling sea of time, eternity in its tranquil 
silence openeth upon the soul. 

New born beauties, newly opened ideas dimly appear unto 
the enraptured spirit, as it is born again, or as it is freed from 
the things of time by a true understanding of them. 

When a truth hath given unto man all that he can under- 
stand of its nature, that truth to him is dead, but within him 
is the essence thereof, as a newly formed seed within .his un- 
derstanding, to grow again in larger and purer growth. 

Truths cannot die, and truth is in all things, yet man being 
progressive, must ever leave the past truths of his experience, 
and seek the future. 

Thus to speak figuratively, to illustrate a truth, the past is 
dead, the present dying, and the future ever glowing in new 
life unto man. 

Thou canst see in this, oh spirit of man, thy Father's good- 
ness, and His desire to see thy face turned toward himself. 
He hath made thee to seek happiness, and hath around him- 
self placed thy future, which thou art seeking. 

In view of our Father's all-enduring goodness unto his chil- 
dren, we can only humbly hope, by fulfilling our own highest 
ideas of his will, to merit his eternal care. 

What can a poor, weak, imperfect being do to glorify thee, 
oh thou great perfection ? Thou didst make us as we are ; our 
consciousness is only part of thy great intelligence, and oh, 
what can we add unto thy brightness or purity ! 

Unto thee, our Father, there is nothing to add, we can only 
add unto our comprehension of what thou art. 

As the dew-drop falleth into the ocean, and mingles with its 
immensity, a part and parcel of the mighty fluid, so does man 
appear when compared with God, in whom he is and who is 
within him. 

And oh, man, when thou canst take from the ocean one 
dew-drop, and annihilate its existence, then wilt thou have in- 
deed an unsteady foundation for thy own being to rest upon. 

Thy being, with its countless, thoughtless actions, with its 
innumerable thoughts and aspirations, is as the little dew-drops 
amid the great eternal thoughts of Jehovah. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 89 

Couldst thou separate thy little drops from all other little 
drops, and from their cause, thou wouldst indeed be God's rival 
in power, yea, thou wouldst be greater than he who made thee 
as thou art. 

Couldst thou get beyond him of whom thou art an atomic 
part, the only difference between you would be the great dif- 
ference in your imperfection. In this case God's imperfection 
would be far greater than man's, for man is not a creator. 

Could man in heaven obtain one feeling, which is not tracea- 
ble unto God, in the cause and end of its existence, then could 
he within this feeling dwell entirely independent of our God, 
yet dependent upon the source whence the stranger feeling 
emanated. 

Man, in all stages of existence, requireth a central idea, 
around which, as a fountain of living waters, his whole being 
circles, and this ideal centre is his God. 

Into this fountain are all his powers baptized. They are 
cleansed as a garment from all impurities within this ideal per- 
fection. 

These are the waters which nourish reason in its highest 
refinement. These are the waters that quench all of man's 
highest thirst, as the waters of earth quench the thirst of his 
lowest nature. 

Remove this one grand ideal centre from the inheritance of 
man, and man would cease to be. The affinity for his maker, 
the intelligent love which holdeth him fast unto all that is 
good, holy and noble ; all that is worthy of man, the son of 
Grod, is this one grand thought, that our God is, and is to be. 

Without an ideal height to aspire unto, and without a par- 
tial comprehension of that height, what is man ? An atom of 
dust! An animal, whose life liveth, yet knoweth not itself! 
An existence, with no power to comprehend above the densest 
and darkest of outside effects. 

Oh God ! All truths are ideals, of which thou art the idea. 
They are rays, thou the centre. 

Such thoughts are pressing upon me their living presence, 
and I view their majestic proportions in awe and reverence. 



90 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

All the universe is a mighty living truth, whose proportion 
unto its cause its cause doth only know. 

Man's universe is the extent of his powers. Whilst upon 
earth the universe is understood as that which his outward 
power reveals unto his mind. When in heaven his universe 
becometh enlarged by the realization of the invisible unto his 
outward gaze. 

The spirit hath no earth to walk upon. The earth is of the 
body, and the body of the earth composed. The spirit is free 
in proportion as love and wisdom are within its affinities. 

The body is the falling weight to balance the spirit's flight. 

God hath seen best to construct man with this weight at- 
tached unto him, and there is supreme wisdom in the arrange- 
ment. 

The earth to childhood's gaze seemeth most lovely. As age 
advances, the earthly charms decrease, until at last the true 
man wishes to leave what he has found to be but changing 
shadows, and to enter a brighter and holier plane of existence. 

The weights of earth thus steady his steps, as he journeys 
on toward God, and ever as he approacheth the end the holier 
is his enjoyment. 

When upon the celestial plane of his existence, the weights 
are sundered from him, and his freed spirit goeth whithersoever 
it desireth. 

God's creation is not a dense mass of matter. The material 
unto terrestrial man is immaterial unto celestial man. 

The spirit can traverse all of God's works, and within itself 
concentrate the love and wisdom emanating therefrom. Thus 
each different spirit can from any given essence receive ample 
nourishment, without infringing upon one another's heaven- 
born privileges, and without removing or destroying one par- 
ticle of the essence of which they partake. 

God's works being perfect, cannot be exhausted. 

The love which joins two atoms in the outward universe, 
will, in its essence, join myriad angelic men. 

A single perfect thought will fill the universe with its rays, 
and these rays will feed all who seek for food. 

A truth is perfect as God, who is all truth. He who com- 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 91 

prehends a single truth, hath a key unlocking the eternal 
beauties of God's wisdom. 

He who loveth with a perfect love, hath happiness equal 
unto God's happiness. 

The happiness of heaven is the food of all its host. 

As myriad men can gaze from their individual points upon 
the bright and shining sun as a brilliant centre, each one re- 
ceiving light from a different ray, so do all men from all points 
of existence gaze upon God in all things. 

The light of heaven does ofttimes illumine the eyes of the 
earthly bound. In moments of inspiration, of love, or in mo- 
ments when some great truth flashes upon the understanding 
of man, the light will burst forth in bright reflections from the 
sun within. 

Thus are the rays divided, but never multiplied. Man can 
reveal part of his happiness unto his brother, but that is not 
happiness which can be all revealed. 

Happiness is mine, it is thine, it is God's. It is, as God, 
the joy and life of all things. All vibrate unto the beatings 
of one mighty spirit-heart. All are quickened by one pulse, 
and by one happiness rejoiced. 

As the heart calls in unto itself the life-blood from the far- 
off parts, so doth the great spirit-heart call home the wander- 
ing spirit. 

As the heart of man doth send out the purified blood to 
nourish the body, so doth the great spirit-heart send out each 
individual spirit after it hath been baptized anew in the channel 
of perfect love. 

Oh man ! Thou art an image of all things, an image of 
God ! Look about thee. Open thy spiritual vision, and be- 
hold the wonders of thy God. 

The life-blood of thy existence is thy affinity for God, whose 
image thou art. It would seem as though he had formed thee 
of, in, and from all things, that in gazing upon thee, his 
child, he could reap the love and joy emanating from all. 

Thou dost seem a reflection of God's power, as his light 
glances from thy inspired eye, and within thy solemn depths 
are found affinities for all he has made, and for all he is. 



CHAPTER VII. 



SIMPLICITY OF TRUTH— SPIRITUAL ECONOMY— SPIRITUAL 
FREEDOM— TRUTHS TAUGHT BY THE EARTH. 



All is very good. Perfect love casteth out all hatred and 
unkindness. Perfect wisdom revealeth itself in its actions. 
All are fruits of one who is our Father. 

In our Father's house is happiness for all. There are within 
Him myriad enjoyments for each individual spirit. 

He giveth life within the spirit of man. The spirit of man 
is an emanation from the great centre of spirit and in affinity 
therewith. 

The spirit-centre and spirit-circumference are one. There 
is no limit unto God, as man infers from his own limitation. 
He is everywhere and without him there is no place. He is 
in, around and above all. 

The spirit of man being an emanation of this great intelli- 
gent fountain, this great spirit-heart, and in affinity therewith, 
is free to wander wherever affinity may lead. 

Heavenly freedom is freedom to enjoy God's goodness, for 
all enjoyment and all freedom proceed from his goodness. 

As hath been said, man on earth buildeth his home in hea- 
ven. He lays the foundation of his eternal temple and raises 
the dome thereof higher or lower, in proportion as his labors 
be good. 

All goodness is contained in lovingly executing the pure 
promptings of wisdom. 

This goodness it is that sunders the earthly weights from the 
spirit of man. This goodness is in direct affinity with the 
fountain of love and wisdom. This goodness enlarges heaven 
by increasing man's comprehension. 

Wisdom and love are free, and freedom is the fruit of love 
and wisdom. 

Thus when the spirit of man becometh enlarged in its power 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 93 

of comprehending the wisdom and love of its Creator, when it 
becometh free through the actions of its own goodness, the 
gates of heaven, which are formed by love of wisdom, are open 
always wide for its reception. 

Are not wisdom, love, and their fruit, goodness, realities ? 
Do they not exist as the living essences of all ? 

What is it thou dost comprehend save that which thy com- 
prehension hath affinity for? And what is thy comprehension 
save the fruit of the love and wisdom manifest in God's good- 
ness? 

In whatever direction the freed spirit of man turneth, God 
is there ; all-surrounding, ever-present, infinite power. 

And the spirit of man doth mingle and dwell within the spi- 
rit of God. All happiness, all freedom and all wisdom are but 
an emanating channel whose current, traced inward unto its 
sublime source, will unfold the beautiful simplicity of the great 
first cause. 

Truth is eternal and eternally attractive unto man. 

The simplest truth learned on the earth amidst the sands 
of time is part of the simplicity of the Father, which as a seed 
will grow and strengthen, will attract unto itself more simple 
truths, and they shall form a living existence within the spirit. 

They are truly blessed, whether in heaven or upon earth, 
who have cultivated an affinity for truth. 

All revealments of God are truths, and all truths must reveal 
God in simplicity. 

Thus the understanding of truth is the understanding of 
God, and giveth unto man the highest and holiest freedom. 

And thus to be free, man must become godlike ; for there is 
no freedom save that which floweth from godliness. 

The godlike spirit thus is found to have free access to all 
unto which its desires may lead. The desires being in affinity 
with God, their central cause must never lead unto any save 
the highest channels spirit can enter. 

And these channels, commencing and ending in the great 
fountain, must ever be laden, as it were, with rich fruits. 

Think not, oh spirit of man, that this will annihilate thy 
power of self-control. Thou art a being, made so by God, and 



94 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

hast the ascending scale within thy own spirit, its height and 
depth depend upon thee. 

Were this not so, thou wert not man. Being man, thou canst 
not be less, and being the son of God, thou canst not be more. 
Man, thou art, and thou art thine own property. 

Thy freedom useth God's channels in which to exist and enjoy 
its existence, yet the enjoyment is thine own. Thou art as he 
hath made thee and thy self-control is given in thy existence. 

God giveth perfect gifts. That which man is he must eter- 
nally be. His powers are progressive and progressing, he 
knoweth not the beginning nor the ending. 

The heavenly freed spirit can ever find new and lovely truths 
upon which to feed its individual existence. 

The affinitive spiritual truths of the great central fountain 
are perfect, and hence when these once enter a being, it must 
become illuminated and reflect in purity unto others that which 
passeth into its existence. 

Thus spirit teacheth spirit God's truths. The partaking 
spirit can only extract from a given truth that part which it 
hath affinity for, leaving unto other spirits all which it cannot 
and they can enjoy. 

Herein can be seen the beautiful economy manifested in all 
of God's works. How beautiful this spiritual adaptation unto 
truths ; each partaking, and at the same time leaving, or appa- 
rently giving, unto others all they can enjoy or desire. 

Perfect are thy ways, oh God ! and in prayerful meditation 
man can learn of thee eternal lessons of wisdom. 

Where our Father dwelleth therein is perfect peace. Our 
Father is perfect, and is in us and we in him, yet, oh how very 
small is our part of this one eternal whole. 

All wisdom revealeth alone its cause. That which man 
termeth wisdom is in affinity unto God, who caused and doth 
cause it to exist. 

All love is sweet. God loveth. And when thou dost love, 
oh man, thou art enlarging thy capability to receive Him, and 
his love within thee. 

Oh ! love thy kind with all thy power of loving. 

Love thy God in all things. Thy task is to keep open the 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 95 

channels of thy being and attract unto thy inmost depths the 
all-enduring and all-quickening light of perfect love. 

Love surrounds thee in heaven and on earth. Thou dost 
breathe and move within it ; it is a reality unto thy inward 
sense and feeling far more tangible than the outward air unto 
thy outward feeling. 

Oh study the ways of love and the light of perfect wisdom, 
for herein is all thy freedom, all thy happiness, and all thy 
heaven. 

Oh how simple and good are the gifts of God unto man. 
Truth's ways are plain. There is no mystery in heaven. 
That which man doth not comprehend in this new abode, are 
felt to be fruits sweet unto those who can partake of them. 

There are no dark fears or suspicions in the heaven of him 
w r ho seeketh in love to do the lessons of wisdom. 

The true and good have only affinity for truth and good- 
ness, and these are undying attributes of God. 

Truths do not change. Time and distance do not affect 
them, they are eternally of God. Ye shall love one another 
in heaven, ye shall light one another, and ye shall preach and 
practice the truth the same in heaven as upon earth. 

Godliness, virtue, and all uprightness bring unto man eter- 
nal peace in eternal day, even as they bring fitful hours of 
peace in the daily life of his earthly existence. 

The same is truth in heaven that is truth on earth. Truth 
in time and eternity, on earth and in heaven, is still the same 
undying witness of the presence of God. 

Hereby can man prove all things. Truth is the same yes- 
terday, to-day, and forever. Truth's opposite ever varies, is 
never the same in two positions. Truth is not changed by 
aught, and can always be known in heaven or upon earth by 
its simplicity. 

See the strength of this staff, oh man, and fear not to lean 
upon it as thou art journeying upward toward thy Father's 
house. It well becometh thee, who must change, to have a 
firm and steadfast friend. 

Truth maketh man to be free, in proportion as he doth un- 
derstand it. All existence being a truth, an emanation of God 



96 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

who is truth, the understanding thereof removeth restraint from 
the spirit of man. 

The truly free can never move save as the light of God's 
wisdom dictates within them. Is this not freedom ? Who 
then is free, if the god-like are not ? Or what is that free- 
dom, or what could it be, in which God is not ? 

When man knowetli, then can he act. He that in heaven 
feeleth high and holy powers growing upon him, doth long for 
a field in which to exercise his powers. 

He that hath tasted of lovely essences, desireth that all his 
kind shall partake also. 

Being good is doing good. All proceedeth from God, and 
through man, his child, it passeth. 

And how passeth ? Even as thou dost guide thy speech 
unto a listening brother's spirit, so dost thou guide and shape 
thy own channel within thyself. 

Each doth give forth from God's storehouse within him that 
which he desireth to give. That given passeth out of his in- 
dividuality, but even as it passeth doth help to mould the in- 
dividuality. 

Man's comprehension commenceth on earth. It groweth 
daily and yearly whilst in time he dwelleth, and each moment 
of his endless eternity expands his capability of receiving 
knowledge. 

As knowledge becometh more and still more expanded, he 
receiveth more and still more freedom, which freedom being a 
product of truth, and truth in turn being the light and love of 
God, this freedom can only be used to glorify God by doing 
good. 

Light and love being the atmospheric presence of our Fa- 
ther, always evidences of his present love and guardianship for 
his children, must surround also all the children who approach 
this pure presence. 

If man's spiritual vision be not purified, how can he see God 
whom he believeth to be all purity ? 

And if it be purified, how can he see aught but the purifier ? 

Thus, oh man, thou must learn to be free, if thou wouldst 
enjoy the greatest privileges of heaven. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 97 

If thou wouldst stand in the presence of Deity, and view all 
in his own pure wisdom ; if thou wouldst see all things as very- 
good, thou must prove thyself worthy of the position by thy 
comprehension of it. 

There are spirits still within the fleshy habitation, that are 
far, very far ahead of some who have left the flesh upon the 
earth, in time that hath long been in eternity. 

If there were not supreme wisdom in man being placed on 
the earth he had never been thereon. 

They who leave the flesh, yet retain all of its low animal 
desires, are very far behind those who have, whilst in flesh, 
lived only for heaven. 

Leaving the flesh is simply one step in existence, and one 
that is very undesirable unto those who have not lived desira- 
ble lives. 

God placed man upon earth in order that the rudimental 
lessons in eternal wisdom might be learned. Then, if in God's 
sight, this was the highest plane in his present existence, it 
should earnestly be studied whilst upon it. 

The knowledge of truth being practical, and there being 
outside representations of truth, behold the wisdom exhibited 
in placing the spirit of man, in an outside covering, in aflinity 
with the outward things, among which his first lessons in wis- 
dom are received. 

If these great first lessons be not learned, whilst in flesh en- 
cased, when and where will they become imbedded in man's 
individuality ? 

Man may flatter himself that he knoweth more than God, 
concerning his own welfare, but it would seem that the maker 
must know more than that which is made. 

It is a fearful thing to leave the earth, yet retain within and 
around the spirit its dense, dark atmosphere. Darkness hath 
no aflinity for light. The blind cannot see. The unlearned 
cannot know. The deaf cannot hear. 

How can he who hath been willfully dark attract light ? The 
earth on earth must be learned, and must be forsaken, ere 
heaven can be entered. False teachings have withheld man 
from seeking light in the time it should be sought. They who 



98 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

teach that God forgiveth transgression, people darkness with 
the spirits of men. 

Oh man ! God is indeed good, but his goodness is just and 
perfect. 

Within each and every spirit is the divine breath. 

This doth enliven and quicken his being, and his understand- 
ing reapeth unto itself harvests of the outward truths whilst 
among them he is placed. 

This being true, where else can these truths be learned, save 
where God designed ? 

The earth is " good." Truths that surround it are as holy 
and pure as the atmosphere of Divinity. To be man thou 
must comprehend these truths, and the school in which to learn 
them is on and in the good earth. 

Who can believe that God would have placed man first 
among the outward, had not this been in his sight the best 
place for him ? 

To suppose that man can as well learn outward truths, so 
termed, when not in the outward existence, is simply to sup- 
pose that God made a great mistake in placing him thus. 

Look at truth as it is, oh man, and believe that thus must it 
always be. Do thou learn all thou canst, and when done with 
earth, thou wilt find thou hast indeed done well. 

The more thou dost study the truths around thee, the more 
wilt thou know of their enduring nature, and the more wilt 
thou be freed from the unenduring. 

If man hath cultivated affinity for the lower and more change- 
able things of time, thus he is, and cannot escape his affinities 
without very severe and very long labors. 

Truths are all realities. Their earthly shadows change in 
different lights, but truth never changeth. 

They who live long in the flesh have very many privileges, 
and can obtain from their own experience wisdom which cannot 
elsewhere be learned. 

• Man must study the seed if he would control the harvest. 
If he would have his future bright and glorious, so must he 
make it to be by entering into affinity with those truths that 
are bright and glorious. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 99 

How can the blind see ? To enable man to comprehend 
truth, and thus enlarge his heaven, he must have within him- 
self the li^ht which giveth vision unto all. 

The spirit is only free when it can comprehend freedom. 
God's truths are perfect, and in proportion as man doth com- 
prehend them, in the same proportion is he builded like unto 
God. 

Death cometh unto man as doth his sickle unto the harvest. 
Blessed are they who are ripe when the fruits are gathered 
home. 

The full man, the fully grown faculties are truly gems that 
shall in heaven reflect pure wisdom's rays, and transmit love 
unto all which they have by their purity attracted. 

If the seed die ere the harvest commenceth, what will be- 
come of it ? How can undeveloped man behold pure and 
fully developed truths ? how can he reap high happiness ? 

As man planteth, so doth he reap, and if he plant thorns 
they will pierce his flesh. 

How can spirit reject its individuality ? The spirits that 
have drawn around them their thick mantles of fleshy desires 
must wear their mantles in heaven, and as these desires are in 
affinity with the darker rays, the more dense truths of earth, 
how can such see in pure and perfect light ? 

How can they who have attracted hatred love ? How can 
they who have attracted love in purity have affinity for its op- 
posite ? The lines between impurity and purity are drawn by 
an almighty hand and cannot be avoided by man. 

Blessed are they who earn God's love. Blessed are the 
purified. Blessed are the free in spirit. Blessed are they who 
know the truth. 

God doth bless all his children, but blessed are they who do 
comprehend his blessings. 

Time and its outward truths unite in teaching the spirit of 
man how to earn immortality. Time will not let him cling 
unto its skirts, but in ever varied changes shakes his hold loose 
and forces him at last to depend only upon himself and God. 

Time is simply the first step in eternity. 

The spirit of man must learn this first step, and in its prac- 



100 THE'HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

tice strengthen himself unto the accomplishment of the great 
and only journey — the understanding of the ways of truth. 

Oh man, whilst yet upon earth learn its bright and beau- 
tiful, yet simple truths. Reflect well and truly upon all around 
thee. 

Oh, as thou valuest thy eternal happiness, strive to imbed 
within thy own individuality the truths among which thou art. 
Ever seek, ever strive, and let thy seeking and striving be ever 
to find and comprehend God's truth. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

IDEAL GODS. 

Truth revealeth immortality. Itself eternally existeth, and 
in its existence all things are glorified. 

Swift and strong witness of God is truth. Always the same, 
always perfect. The great enduring rock upon which the spirit 
of man standeth and beholdeth God in all wisdom and love, 
and all wisdom and love in God. 

Oh man, love this pure friend. God hath in mercy or in 
love given thee to know the truth from its strength, and thy 
own error from its weakness. 

Oh, if thou lovest thyself, love the truth and follow its teach- 
ings, for without truth thou couldst not exist, being thyself but 
a truth whose waters flow on toward the great and boundless 
ocean of Divinity. 

It is truth that plumeth thy wings for the eternal flight. 

It is truth that thou dost dwell within, and through truth's 
pure incense cometh heaven's hallowed joy. 

It is truth that thou wilt behold when purity doth bless thy 
vision by revealing thy Father unto thee. 

Oh, how man doth cling unto shadows ! All truths that 
give highest and holiest pleasure unto man are those pure in- 
ward promptings, those divine revealments within his own spi- 
rit which, as fountains fresh, are filled with undying waters. 

It seemed necessary in perfect wisdom that man should first 
be placed among the shadows of truth, or among those of 
lowest nature ; and among these flitting shadows must he learn 
that the light of higher truths doth cause them. 

Grand eternal destiny ! oh man, how canst thou repay thy 
cause save by unto him returning heavily laden with the fruits 
of goodness ? 

Unto thy aspiring spirit take the truth, and it shall grow and 



102 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

strengthen daily and hourly. It shall strengthen against all 
lower desires and lower actions. It shall grow more bright 
and lovely, forming ever higher and holier affinities until it is 
worthy to enter, and comprehend itself to be in, the immediate 
presence of the great first cause. 

God is mysterious unto the undeveloped spirit of man. 

He is unto the fully developed spirit the sum or central es- 
sence of all things combined, yet infinitely above all things. 
He is the wisdom which revealeth love, and the love which re- 
vealeth wisdom, yet their creating and controlling cause. 

He cannot be embodied in thought, for he produceth all of 
which thought is composed. He cannot be revealed by inspira- 
tion, for the finite understanding doth never encompass infinity. 

No man can see that which causeth his vision, neither feel 
that which causeth his feeling, for the cause ceaseth ere its 
fruit is ripe. 

Existence and its cause do dwell in harmony. God did, and 
doth create all existence. The highest existence man can 
comprehend is the existence of his own ideal God. 

As God buildeth man, so doth man create God. 

The spirit buildeth for itself a creation, and the highest 
ideal embodiment of pure truth is the God over the creation. 

As God is his own boundless being, so is man his own bound- 
less child. As God is perfection of all ideals, so is the all of 
man's ideals God's perfection. 

Truth is fearfully plain when first comprehended. 

All spirits find the God they seek, yet no two find the all of 
perfection. All seeking returneth unto God, whence in the 
beginning it came. Cause returneth unto cause, and effect 
unto effect. 

The thirst of man is quenched by the waters of God. 

Imperfect desires cannot be gratified with perfect draughts, 
and hence it is that each spirit is so created as to have within 
itself an ideal, a reflection of the one perfect. 

He who loveth truth can never be deceived, for within his 
own spirit is the light of perfect truth. This light quickeneth 
every desire, and every desire raiseth itself in the high ideal 
toward God. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 103 

Man's highest ideas, his highest wisdom, the loftiest point 
he can from earth attain, are in heaven himself. His earthly 
god is his own heavenly being. 

It is a truth that as man createth his god on earth, so doth 
he create in heaven happiness. 

As each and every man vieweth all outward things differ- 
ently, and buildeth therefrom his creation and its cause, so, in 
reality, is he creating his outward worlds, and building himself 
as the cause thereof. 

Thus hath God builded him, and thus is he in the divine 
image. 

The Father and child cannot become isolated. 

Truth existeth. The present and future are as much in 
eternity as the past. Love uniteth all that its cause created. 

Man hath rights and privileges, which are perfect gifts from 
God, and cannot be annihilated. 

All privileges commence and end in truth. 

Oh man, it well becometh thee, as child of God, to be noble 
and god-like in all thou doest. It well becometh thee to guard 
and study well thy privileges. 

Do not be trammeled in spirit by a craven fear that thou 
wilt walk on unbidden ground ; do thou desire righteously, and 
thy spirit will be ever bidden to gather knowledge whitherso- 
ever it will. 

Thou art encompassed by God, and whether in the future 
happiness or present torture thou art placed, remember that 
truth is the only unchanging staff. 

When men would chain thee within the bounds set by their own 
fears, do thou remember that wherein is love fear cannot enter. 

Love of God removeth fear from man. 

All men should love their God, for he is their highest good. 
He giveth them highest and purest* wisdom ; surely they should 
not fear him, but should fear to fall short of the requirements 
revealed within their own spiritual being. 

Even if there were no God, or no great cause, the pleasure 
of loving and of wisdom would surely be inducement enough 
for man to love and learn. 

God hath created this feeling of happiness as love's and 



104 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

wisdom's fruit, that man may from experience know that it is 
blessed to be good. 

Herein see the strength, simplicity and wisdom manifest in 
God's goodness, and herefrom know, oh man, that when thou 
art not rewarded thou art not laboring for God. His fruit is 
ever ripe. 

This ripeness of perfect fruit is proof that man's spirit is in 
the present in heaven. As he merits happiness, so is happi- 
ness received. As he labors, so is he rewarded. 

Cause and effect have precisely the same relations on earth 
and in heaven. The spirit of man is precisely the same exist- 
ence unto all eternity. He ever groweth into a fuller appre- 
ciation of cause and its relation to effects, and as fruit of this 
wisdom, is an enjoyer of higher happiness. 

An elevated earthly existence draweth man toward his God. 
As man doth cultivate an affinity for all things pure and noble; 
as he doth approach the high ideal existence, which hath been 
termed the god he createth, so doth his earthly nature become 
clothed in robes fresh and pure from heaven. 

How exceedingly good in our Father to place all relating 
unto our future destiny, as it were, in our own hands. 

He giveth us the clay and intelligence, and we form the 
statue, breathing into it the breath of life ; even as He created 
us and placed us in earth an image of Himself. 

This creating our heaven ; this building from our own aspi- 
rations a Being representing the aspirations of our spirit ; this 
comprehending from the inanimate effects a cause of them ex- 
isting, is proof upon proof of the truth that man is a creating 
image of the great Creator. 

Man useth God's material and immaterial truths as God useth 
them, save that man's comprehension of them is imperfect. 

As man comprehendeth God, so doth he create. 

God's truths are as perfect in the hands of his child as in 
his own. What matter whether man comprehendeth, does not 
truth remain the same, perfect ? 

Is it assuming God's power to create ? And doth timid man 
create his own power of creating ? Surely God is not so illy 
constructed that man can find him to be imperfect. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 105 

Man cannot create an atom. He can comprehend that 
which is created, and as he comprehendeth so can he use the 
creation. Being an effect, yet having an affinity for causes, 
he can of the cause learn to use effects as himself desireth. 

Thus man can see the wisdom of his earthly existence, and 
how necessary unto a happy future is a well spent present. 

Thus can he see that time is indeed the first great step in 
eternity, and that they are blessed who improve their time. 

Thus can he prove that the freedom of heaven dependeth 
upon a freedom from earth. A freedom to enter high enjoy- 
ment dependeth upon a freedom from low affinities. And thus 
also can he prove that man can be in heavenly happiness while 
yet upon earth. 

Man errs in looking toward the future for his eternal happi- 
ness. The present moment is in eternity, though it may be 
called time. Those who look forward, and forsake the joys of 
well spent moments, can have no real happiness. 

Oh man, thy present existence is thy eternity. Thou wilt 
never be more the child of God than at present. 

Couldst thou comprehend fully what it is to be the fruit of 
perfection, thou wouldst know that thou art ever in the midst 
of all that can give thee happiness. 

Enter thy heaven fearlessly, it is thy own. If thou art the 
child of God, He is thy father. If he loveth thee, it must be 
with a perfect love ; and if thou dost feel at times as though 
love could not approach thee in purity, remember thou cannot 
comprehend purity, and therefore cannot limit it. 

Trust in God. Oh, believe that he doeth all things in wis- 
dom. Love is the sweet evidence of his presence, even as wis- 
dom, or light, is the strong witness of his power. 

They who in perfect love approach him know of a truth that 
he is more wise and loving than they can measure with their 
weak powers, and let them be ever so high, they feel very low 
when in such holy presence. 

He is ever present. His presence when felt is all that man 
can feel. His love filleth spirit full of the holiest joy that 
spirit can realize. His wisdom revealeth his presence in all 
things. 



106 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

The freed spirit can wander whithersoever desire may lead, 
and know by an holy feeling that the Father is beside it. To 
feel this presence, is the reward of faithfulness. They who 
humbly desire to merit communion with him, can have a con- 
sciousness of the communing. Is it not the nature of love to 
make happy ? And the nature of wisdom to teach ? Then, 
surely, the Creator desireth with love and wisdom to illuminate 
and make happy the spirit who humbly seeks this communion. 

Man on earth, being limited himself, would fain reduce God 
unto his own limits. The ideal he creates is not his Creator. 
God is unlimited, from all limited powers proven so to be, for 
there are no powers in man that can compass or comprehend 
him ; hence man, not knowing, hath named him that which 
cannot be known by aught save Himself. 

Each and every man hath some affinity for, and some knowl- 
edge of what he believeth God. Through this high affinity, 
and this germ of pure knowledge, cometh freedom. 

Thus again, all freedom is seen to emanate from and return 
unto God, the great primeval cause fountain. 

Thus do I learn through trusting humility of spirit to become 
free from fear, from error, and from all earthly chains ; and 
in the God-given freedom do I learn to adore the giver. 

Truth is strong ; blessed are they who have confidence in its 
strength. Love is indeed sweet, and they are blessed who 
partake of its full joy. Wisdom is indeed a good counselor, 
and blessed are they who heed its guidance. God is indeed 
good, and they are thirce blessed who constantly strive, 
through truth, love, and wisdom, to appreciate His high regard 
for them. 

When the spirit of man becometh free through its compre- 
hension of truth, there is no truth too deep or too holy for it 
to understand. The mysteries of existence disappear before 
its high knowledge as do the fogs of earth from before the rays 
of the brilliant sun. 

All that can trammel spirit is ignorance of truth. 

When the spirit is freed by knowledge of truth, the truth be- 
cometh clear and transparent unto the spirit. 

Therefore can the spirit ever find among the pure truths of 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 107 

heaven all that shall gratify and render happy ; all happiness 
being fruit of truthful comprehension of God. 

Heaven unto the freed spirit is but an emanation of Deity, 
or an atmospheric presence in which is all happiness that spirit 
can comprehend. 

This presence or emanation is everywhere, for God is un- 
limited. It is a truthful essence : as much an essence of out- 
ward truths as of inward realities. It is the loving tie of affinity 
which binds spirit unto its source, and unto congenial freed 
spirits. 

The spirit of God being the great creator of spirit in man, 
and in affinity with its fruit, cannot, surely, be isolated from 
its fruit. 

Man comprehendeth each one his own part of his cause, and 
by his own part is guided. 

As man remaineth separate from that which his hand doth 
build, so must God remain in a measure separate from the out- 
ward representatives of His hand. 

As man's works show an imperfect intelligence, so doth God's 
work a perfect intelligence so far as man's highest comprehen- 
sion measureth. 

Man is the child of an unlimited Father. The Father is 
perfect. Man, being fruit of unlimited perfection, must have 
powers whose boundary being fixed in perfect truth must unto 
man himself ever seem boundless. 

As he progresseth, so doth progress his powers of progres- 
sion, and the wisest ever feel in most need of wisdom. 

They who form an affinity for wisdom can ever learn brighter, 
simpler, and more exalted wisdom, for their progressive powers 
ever redouble upon them with still greater strength, as around 
and within all is felt to be their supreme Creator. 

God is not afar off, no farther than is imperfect wisdom and 
love from perfection. Why believe him to be in the dim dis- 
tance ? Surely all the proofs of his existence are within thy- 
self, and there shouldst thou look for him. 

The purified spirit of man useth precisely the same intelli- 
gence that his Father useth, so far as he can use it. 

Then if man is like unto God when his being becomes filled, 



108 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

as it were, with pure intelligence, what can stay his course ? 
What can limit him who is free through the action of God's 
eternal attributes ? 

Or, if any man believe there is no God, there is, as all 
know, truth and intelligence, and all know that the more in- 
telligence a man hath, the more can he comprehend and control 
truth, which at last bringeth him to the same point as though 
the existence of God were admitted and believed. 

Truth remaineth the same though man believe it not. 

Truth is of God, and though man may be ignorant, yet 
surely his ignorance can never alter or encompass the great 
eternal attribute. 

The strength and durability of all God's works proveth the 
perfection of his power. 

The same is true of man ; the more near he approacheth 
perfect knowledge, the more lasting become his works, because 
more of the lasting attributes are comprehended and by him 
used in the works. 

Oh man, if thou wouldst enter heaven a freed spirit, a free 
child of God, and thus have all avenues open unto thee ; if 
thou wouldst have happiness like unto that enjoyed by thy 
Father in heaven ; oh search for His wisdom in all things. 

Thou knowest thou art, and thou knowest thou didst not 
produce thyself ; then, oh search for that which is thus proven 
to be above thee, for that which can alone quench thy eternal 
thirst, the presence of the source whence thou came. 



CHAPTER IX 



HAPPINESS EMANATING FROM GOD'S GOODNESS— FALSE 
LIGHTS— HOW TO DISTINGUISH THEM— PRAYER— LIGHT 
THE TEST OF ALL— FOLLOW NO SPIRIT— LET GOD TEACH 
THEE. 



There should be no mysteries unto the child of the unlimited. 
All must be plain unto that power which produced all. And 
man being within the all, and fruit of the intelligent producer, 
should, by increasing his intelligence, drive all mystery from 
before him. • 

The spiritual existence of man hath by ignorance been 
shrouded in darkness. The tombs have inclosed the spirit 
within the dread charnel-house where the earthly tenement 
mouldered into dust. The grave hath severed the loving tie of 
spirits, and beneath the cold earth hath hope been buried ! 

But God said "let there be light," " let love claim its own," 
let the truth be known ! 

Behold the light bursteth forth from the presence of all purity, 
love is by its side, truth unites them. 

Myriad spirits hail the glorious dawn of light comprehended. 
The truth did always exist, yet was unknown unto man. Love 
is eternal, yet man could not feel its highest throbbings. 

The dove, holy emblem of inspiration, came down to earthly 
comprehension, and revealed the glorious truth that " light 
shall make you free." 

Light shall nive sight unto man. In the depths of most re- 
fined wisdom snail he learn all that can be known, that God is 
good and perfect. 

These holy and eternal attributes of the great first cause, — 
light, love, truth, shall reveal all that can be felt by man. 

Light, the spirit ; love, the mind ; and truth, the body of 
Jehovah. These are the one broad pleasure ground of all His 



110 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

children. He doth open his spirit to quicken them ; He poureth 
forth his own holy thoughts to feed them ; and of his body do 
they receive highest truth. 

He is not outward, yet in the outward are the witnesses that 
He is within. 

Oh God ! In the depths of sublime thought doth thy 
quickened child love to linger. Within the mighty presence 
of pure truths comprehended would I fain forever dwell. Upon 
the beams of thy own holy intelligence would I rest my wearied 
spirit, and from thine own wisdom cull the sweets of knowledge. 
Is this enthusiasm ? Cannot they who/eeZ heaven strive to 
express their feeling ? Is it not the nature of happiness to 
make happy ? Oh man ! thy chilly nature cannot freeze the 
pure love of God or the happiness it giveth. 

The spirit when feeling happiness would fain impart the feel- 
ing unto all it loveth. 

Happiness being a result produced by the action of God's 
attributes cannot be confined. It is a boundless feeling when 
in purity enjoyed, for in purity it is the enjoyment of God. 
Therefore the spirit that is really and truly happy, must spread 
happiness whithersoever it goeth. 

It is a pleasure to enter the presence of a really happy spirit. 
The unconfinable happiness becometh like unto an atmosphere 
surrounding the spirit, and to enter this presence is to partake 
of the escaping joy. 

The spirit of God being perfect, must create its own refined 
enjoyment. The spirit of man being imperfect, yet in affinity 
unto God, must receive from the perfect happiness all its com- 
prehension thereof. 

As perfect happiness emanates from a comprehension of the 
divine presence within man, so does imperfect happiness pene- 
trate man's outward nature, and greet its neighbor with smiling 
countenance. 

Man's imperfect happiness in its highest refinement is like 
unto perfection of happiness in God. Both are formed by the 
same cause ; both are results of the same attributes ; and both 
in reality are one, for man's imperfect comprehension is only 
imperfect in quantity, it is not all of God's perfection. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. Ill 

There is but one plane above man, and upon that plane is 
the all of all. Imperfect man is second only to perfect God. 

And that he is second man can know from the simple truth 
that he is not self-productive. 

This one blank void in his existence, the one truth that he is, 
yet knoweth not how he came into being, is sufficient to keep 
the true spirit ever most humble. 

God, the great primeval center of all causes, hath in the 
purest conceptions of man, in the fervent aspirations of his 
spirit, in the sum of all his intelligence, placed his own high 
altar, and upon it doth the humble spirit ever sacrifice its own 
imperfection unto what it believeth to be the one good. 

The happiness of the spirit that believeth in God's goodness 
is ample proof that it is good so to believe. 

And the truth that man must have an high and pure ideal to 
render him thus happy, is ample proof that a good cause did 
thus create him. 

There is harmony in all things, for all flow from one fount- 
ain. There is a cause of harmony, and if man would run his 
imagii ation wild in searching after every successive cause in 
detail, the wildness of the thoughts would soon prove their 
folly. 

Man cannot find one self-existent and independent cause. 
Does it therefore not exist ? The truth that man is imperfect 
proveth he hath a cause not imperfect like unto himself, and 
that which is not imperfect must be perfect. 

Can there be a being who created man and who is still im- 
perfect ? And even if such a being do exist, it must have a 
cause, and we only go one step nearer God in our search after 
truth at last. 

God is the great thought center. Toward Him as the cause 
do all aspirations center inward, for the highest aspirations of 
spirit are all inward, and as they center in, man doth ever find 
higher and still holier food, broader and more grand vision, 
sweeter, more serene, and more refined happiness. 

It is enough for man to depend upon God. It is the all of 
his requirements that man should depend upon the highest 
light within him. 



112 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

They that run after other lights and are by other lights 
guided, are like unto the mariner who would not depend upon 
the true beacon light and lost his bark upon the stormy coast. 

God doeth all well that is done. The spirit that he hath 
created in man is his child, and did a perfect Father give away 
his child to be lost ? Did he make him to be a reproof unto 
his cause in his very existence ? 

The spirit of man cannot know all of truth. Then how can 
he know which part of truth will fit a brother spirit best ? 

Oh man, depend upon thy supreme creator, and only upon 
him. Be not led or blindly guided by any spirit. Believe not 
that any can instruct thee so well as Him, thy own Father. 

Thou art connected unto him by ties that even himself, being 
perfect, cannot sever, and why shouldst thou stoop to beg of 
every passer-by, or to receive of all who choose to offer thee ? 

Guard well thine own being, that it do not cease to attract 
light from the fountain of all light. 

Believe no man, or disembodied spirit of man, who would 
teach that God is limited. They who would make themselves 
worthy, must ever guard well the portals of their being, and 
let no stranger enter into their inmost temple lest a being in- 
ferior unto God should be worshiped. 

There are what are termed false lights, and blessed are they 
who are not guided by them. 

When man is nearest the fountain which is unto him perfect, 
why should he journey unto other fountains which must be at 
least imperfect ? 

If any spirit claim perfection, the claiming proveth its im- 
perfection. God's perfection is not limited by man's compre- 
hension, and he will never say unto man, " I am perfect," but 
thou art imperfect, for man could not comprehend the claim of 
perfection. 

Man proveth, from his own imperfection, that God is per- 
fect, but this will not apply unto any spirit of man, for such 
spirit hath a cause not itself, which that being termed God 
cannot have. 

Why should imperfection seek of itself to know the truths of 
God's perfection ? Surely the fountain of wisdom is large 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 113 

• 

enough to supply all it createth. Can a result exhaust its 
cause ? Can man's spirit desire more than man's Creator can 
give ? 

Then why do men depend upon man to reveal unto them 
what each could better learn for himself, and that of God? 

Love bindeth man unto man and unto God. All should love 
all, but more than all God who gave the power to love. 

It is good to commune with a congenial spirit, it giveth hap- 
piness, but a good spirit will never teach aught but good. 

The good spirit will ever teach a dependence upon God, for 
such an one knoweth him to be all of good. 

And hereby shall ye know them ; if they direct you unto 
God, saying, "Ask of Him, for he is good and most wise;" 
then do as ye are bidden, and believe also that the prompting 
spirit is good. 

If a spirit do not thus direct thee to seek Him, oh man, 
know of a certainty, that spirit is ambitious to stand between 
thee and the fountain of wisdom. 

No spirit can intercept prayer. No being God hath ever 
created can snatch from thy lips a draught thou dost earnestly 
seek or truly merit. This doth perfect justice demand. 

Oh, man ! God alone is good. No being can usurp his su- 
preme power, for himself alone can comprehend it.. 

His gifts are unlimited as himself, but all men are different 
and must of these gifts receive differently. Herein is the 
guard of individuality. 

No two being alike, no one can rightly direct another one. 
God being all, can surely direct all perfectly. He directs each 
as unto each is highest good, for he is himself highest good 
unto all. 

Reject not truth from any source. Receive no error if thou 
knowest it so to be. Search always for the highest good, and 
believe that no imperfect being can bestow this upon thee. 

Why needst thou seek if all were imperfect that thou couldst 
receive ? Truth is always perfect, and thou art imperfect so 
far as thou wilt not hold all of the truth. 

Thou art of truths composed, but art less than God. 

It is thy duty to pray. It is thy duty ever to seek to know 



114 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

the will of thy heavenly Father, and so far as thou dost com- 
prehend, to strive and do. 

Thy prayer should ascend in confidence unto God. Ask 
food of Him ; and if he send unto thee a messenger do not for- 
get the one who sends and worship the one employed. 

Spirits of men cannot give perfect gifts. The one who asks 
a spirit, tempts that spirit to give what is not its own. 

No man should thus tempt his brother spirit, but should send 
his aspirations direct unto the fountain of wisdom. 

God useth perfect means to accomplish his desires. His love 
and his truths are perfect, and these he sends unto his aspiring 
children in such manner as unto himself seemeth wise. 

If a spirit cometh unto thee with a message which thou feelest 
to have been prompted by love, to have been caused by the 
perfect source of love, then listen, and weigh well every word 
spoken unto, or impressed upon thee. 

If a spirit cometh unto thee with words of truth, words that 
thou knowest, by thy own internal light, contain truths that 
must benefit thy being ; then listen also unto that spirit, and 
weigh well the truths given. 

Always remember there is no love but God's love, no truths 
but what are parts of God's eternal truth ; and when thou re- 
ceivest, by whatever instrumentality, love, or truth, do not 
forget the center whence these essences come. 

He who bathes in the stream should not forget the fountain. 

A spirit may comprehend more or less than thou, but God 
alone knows best what thou shouldst know, and within thee 
is His light divine which will ever reveal all that can do thee 
most good. 

All goodness is of God, but all wisdom is comprehending this 
goodness; and hence if thou art blindly led, what canst thou 
know, or what enjoy ? 

God's goodness is perfect, and hence his teachings are purely 
practical, and are always in harmony with thy whole being. 

Thou growest into the perfection of all thy powers, even as 
a tree groweth, and if God useth a means to assure thee of his 
goodness and wisdom, it is thy duty, as inheritor and receiver of 
this wisdom and goodness, that thou be ever guarded in receiving. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 115 

Stand upon thy own manhood. In being man, thou art se- 
cond only to God. Love thy Father in everything. His spirit 
is within every spirit he hath created, and is ever the highest 
guide. 

His spirit being within thine own, can more effectually prompt 
thee than if the spirit have to shine through another. 

Thou hast this spiritual test within thyself, and it is a wit- 
ness of God's goodness; it is a guard which none should be 
permitted to pass ; it is a power none should be permitted to 
usurp. It shieldeth thy individuality; it maketh thee to be 
man ; and to be worthy of the high name which implieth thou 
art the son of God. 

By thy own God-given light shalt thou know them. Do not 
depend upon another's light, for such test would not reveal 
unto thee highest good. 

Thou must be very careful concerning all relating unto thy 
future state of existence. 

Believe no man, or spirit of man, who cannot substantiate 
his future theory upon present truth. Earthly truth is as per- 
fect as heavenly truth, and all truth centers within the one 
truth which is God. Therefore must the future, and present, 
and past eternally harmonize ; and therefore must the teaching 
man, or spirit, be tested while teaching by the aid of the light 
of truth within each and every man who hears the teaching. 

Man having power to see, is responsible for sight. 

If thou dost follow a spirit of man, as such, thou art most 
unwise. The desire which maketh thee to follow is not by man 
created, and didst thou know thyself, thou wouldst know that 
a desire man cannot create, he cannot supply. 

Learn all thou canst of truth, but remember that is not truth 
which will not bear the most thorough testing. 

If a word or passage contain truth, the truth is eternal, and 
eternally part of God, and cannot be destroyed. The metal 
may be refined and re-refined, but remember it is but dross 
that is extracted ; the metal, the truth, is only the brighter the 
more pure it becomes. 

If a spirit deliver unto thee a message purporting to be from 
God, thy duty unto thy God demands that thou shouldst k%ow 



116 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

it so to be, from His own test-light within thee, ere thou dost 
believe it. 

Life on earth and in heaven, forever, is practical. 

That which entereth within thy individuality becometh part 
of thee, and hence, thou must see the necessity of thy using 
thy light, thy own part of God, in judging of other parts, or 
those things purporting to be other parts, of His purity. 

The instant thou dost lose thy own control, that instant is 
so much of thy manhood gone. Thy freedom is the freedom 
of governing all connected with thyself, save always the one 
link uniting thee with thy cause. 

The instant a being steps between thy spirit and God, that 
instant art thou in darkness. If thou dost depend upon any 
being save God, that instant art thou a willing slave. 

What matter how many outside proofs man may bring to 
substantiate his theory, the highest truth is of God and by 
God alone explained. That man who seeketh through a per- 
verted channel to obtain highest wisdom, will reap the reward 
of his own folly. 

God's highest wisdom hath no outward proof. The central 
wisdom which supplieth outward fountains emanates from 
within His own depth and therein remaineth. 

Man cannot fathom Divinity. Could he grasp all truth in 
his comprehension, then could he reveal unto man who was 
less intelligent, that which could never be changed. 

The highest progression cometh from powers based upon 
truth, which is eternally unchangeable. 

Man's progression is in proportion to the truths, or amount 
of truth, he has collected and imbedded within his individu- 
ality. 

A spirit may attempt to teach that which it knoweth not the 
extent of, but all must see that such teaching must at best be 
imperfect. 

So long as man, or the spirit of man, remaineth imperfect, 
the teachings must also be imperfect, and should be well 
weighed before they be adopted. 

Do not turn a deaf ear unto all who would speak unto thee, 
but analyze and prove well all thou nearest. Be kind and 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 117 

loving, but be firm, and guard well thy being. Spirits may 
approach thee with very good intentions, yet at the same time 
may be very ignorant of the truths that would do thee most 
good. 

A spirit cannot usurp thy individuality. Thou art thyself, 
and must for thyself seek out thy part of wisdom and love. 

The man who gives up his being unto the sway of every 
spirit who may choose to enter for a season, is indeed most 
unwise, most ignorant of his highest good, and most ignorant 
of the fundamental laws of his being. 

Thou should not presuppose that every spirit who hath left 
the body knoweth more than thou of God's goodness. Thou 
shouldst be willing to learn truth from any source, but remem- 
ber, all spirits of men combined cannot teach all truth. 

In the past man's great error hath always been his depend- 
ence upon and fear of his brother man. The future must be 
freed from this dependence by depending solely upon God in 
the present. 

No good spirit will ask thee to depend implicitly upon its 
guidance, for such spirit well knoweth its own weakness com- 
pared with the power of its Creator. 

And didst thou depend upon any spirit, the very dependence 
would be a reproof unto thee ; the dependence would render 
thee weaker than thou art alone, for thou art leaning upon a 
broken staff; thou art depending upon imperfection, and can- 
not find perfect good. 

He who hath faith in imperfect spirits of men is in a worse 
position than he who hath no faith at all. 

A perverted faith leadeth unto superstition and bigotry ; a 
faith in God's goodness ever leadeth unto joy and wisdom. 

All faith is perverted that does not cling unto God, for He 
is the cause of all things producing faith in the spirits of His 
children. 

He who followeth a spirit becometh blind. He who followeth 
God will find in enlarged vision the true mission of all spirits 
who are permitted to be known on earth. 

God doth not control his spirit children save in perfect wis- 
dom. The mission of all spirits who visit earth is, good unto 



118 THE HEALING OP THE NATIONS. 

man. But man must learn this goodness, which is perfect, 
without forgetting that the instruments are imperfect. He must 
learn to depend upon the good and not upon the ones carrying 
the joyous tidings unto him. 

The spirits of men are not let out to visit earth to tie man 
still tighter in cords of error, but have come with new beams 
of hope, new rays of light, and new words of love to entice man 
homeward unto God. 

They have tasted of His love, they have dwelt in His light, 
yet, so, oh man, hast thou, and they come to confirm thee in 
the faith that He is indeed good, and all thy wisdom, love, and 
happiness but parts of this holy and eternal goodness. 

They come to say, "thou art eternal." They come with 
glad tidings. They come with purer joys than earth ever knew 
before. They open unto man new realms for his enraptured vision 
to enter. They make truth more lovely and love more truthful. 

Their simple coming giveth faith unto the doubting spirit 
and hope unto the despairing. 

Oh, man ! learn of this coming another proof that thou art 
the eternal child of Him who ever liveth. 

Blessed is he who openeth his being to receive the truth and 
shuts out the errors which he discovers approaching. 

Oh, depend upon God ! Do not cut thy bark loose from this 
eternal anchor and turn out upon the trackless deep, a darkened 
spirit. 

No spirit can teach thee thy road unto God. If thou do 
cease to seek for thyself, who can seek for thee ? He is not 
afar off, as hath again and again been said ; He is as near unto 
thee as any child He hath created, and know, oh man, thou 
art as near unto His holy spirit as the brightest angel in heaven. 

His love, being perfect, cannot be limited, and extendeth 
unto thee in its own holy purity. If thou wilt not partake, 
doth thy waywardness affect His love ? Do not imagine thou 
art perfect and He the imperfect. 

If, in His mercy, He send unto thy tired and faltering spirit 
the spirit of thy own little heaven-born child with words of 
love, words of healing, in which come hope and faith, oh, do 
not forget in thy joy the Holy One who caused it. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 119 

The rapturous feelings attending this sweet communion are 
rays of light divine, are scintillations, as it were, scattered by 
His hand around thee ; parts of His own purity partially com- 
prehended. 

The joys of perfect love and the depths of perfect wisdom 
man ever seeks to find, and ever does he find more joy and 
greater depth, even in proportion unto his progression. 

A brother cometh unto thee with a message of love whose 
purity astonishes thee, and thou dost almost forget that the 
love is not his but his Father's. 

So soon as thou dost forget God that soon must thy pro- 
gression in true knowledge cease ; and thou wilt invariably find 
that those who forget Him cease to attract His pure minister- 
ing spirits. 

Spirits in communicating with earth, or with the inhabitants 
of earth, are subject unto the same laws and the same control- 
ling essences as though they were still incased in the flesh. 

The laws or channels of spirit are as eternal as the spirit of 
God whose spirit in its movements regulates all movements of 
spirit. 

God is self-existent. Man is within this self-existence, but 
is not all thereof. He useth perfect channels in communica- 
ting with each individual child ; but when one child would com- 
municate with another the perfect channel remaineth closed. 

A brother spirit may know far more of the truth than thou, 
and it is well to listen unto his voice that thou may select from 
his part of God's wisdom that which will benefit thee ; but it is 
also well to know he is not God. 

Thou canst not know all of His perfection, but can know 
thy brother's imperfection. Thou art so constituted that seek- 
ing giveth more happiness than finding. 

If thy happiness come from thy own seeking, thou should 
only seek the highest One, for this thou can never find. 

Thou canst never encompass God, and may overreach thy 
brother's power, hence it were better to follow the One in 
whom thou canst never find imperfection. 

Why should thou covet knowledge that is not perfect ? 

What matter to thee how a brother believeth ? His belief 



120 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

must be well investigated before thou adopt it. We would 
not have thee too selfish, but would have thee to fully under- 
stand thou art thy own being, and would have thy being to be 
an honor unto its Creator. 

A spirit may tell thee what it believeth, but should never 
attempt to dictate what thou must believe. Spiritual respon- 
sibility is eternal. Thy body does not affect thy spiritual 
privileges, as such, for after the body is left behind, the spirit 
is the same being as before. 

To the unlimited spirit of God freedom is perfect, because 
His wisdom is self-existent and self-creative ; but unto man's 
spirit the perfection' of freedom is also measured by his com- 
prehension of wisdom which is limited. 

Thy privileges are the same as God's so far as they go. 

If thou would extend thy privileges unto their utmost capa- 
city, surely thou would not use limited means, and thou must 
know that all, save God, are limited. 

If a being say unto thee, " I am God, worship me," then 
know of a certainty the truth is not therein ; for God, knowing 
thy imperfection, will not take a form thou cannot see or un- 
derstand. 

Imperfection cannot see or understand perfection, and God's 
goodness needeth no commandments to make it known and felt 
by man. 

He is not arbitrary and willful, but wise and loving. His 
attributes are visible in all things, but until all things are within 
the understanding of man, the form of his Father, must remain 
a mystery unto him. 

Spirits may assume to be God, and to have His power, and 
may succeed in deluding the fickle-minded, but truly, the de- 
luded are nearer God than the ones assuming to have His 
power. 

Man, on earth, not knowing the future state of his existence, 
yet hoping it to be bright and glorious, is very liable to be de- 
ceived, if not constantly guarded, through the very channels in 
which his happiness is intended to flow. 

If a spirit attempt to deceive thee, or if a spirit do deceive 
thee, what then? Is not the truth that it does exist after leav- 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 121 

ing the flesh of far more real value to thy spirit — doth it not 
leave thee far wiser than if it had not approached thee ? 

And the truth, that a spirit hath deceived thee, surely proveth 
that deceiving spirits exist and retain their individuality after 
the body is gone unto earth. 

The spirit of God alone is perfect, and if a spirit deceive thee, 
the deception is sufficient proof of its imperfect knowledge of 
truth. 

A spirit may teach falsely and yet firmly believe itself to be 
in the right, for no man's spirit can fathom the depths of wis- 
dom, and therefrom bring forth perfect truth. 

If thou do humbly seek for wisdom, thou must find it in all 
things, for thou dost enter its own channels of affinity. 

Keep thy own spirit humble before God; ask continually 
His counsel; be willing to be guided by His light within thee, 
and thou cannot be deceived. 

Those only are deceived, who enter deceitful affinities. 

Those only cannot see, who are willfully blind unto their 
light. 

Do not expect perfect lessons until thou can comprehend 
them. 

Do not ask too much ; it is better to earn a little than to 
crave more than is earned. 

If thou dost constantly ask of an imperfect spirit, do not 
expect perfect answers. Ask wisdom of Him who alone hath 
it within Himself. Expect love and happiness as thou dost 
love and dost make happy. 

All teaching cannot give thee one ray of pure wisdom, if it 
do not become imbedded within thy own individuality, by thy 
own practice, or by thy own earnest thinking. 

Godliness must become part of thee to render thy being like 
unto His ; thy happiness must cease to be imaginative and whim- 
sical to be of real and lasting use unto thee; in short, thou must 
of thyself become worthy to receive God's love and wisdom, 
before thou canst become fully conscious of their pure presence. 

Heavenly happiness hath precisely the same cause as hath 
earthly happiness. The spirits of men, that have entered the 
highest plane of wisdom ever attained by man, must trace their 
9 



122 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

exquisite enjoyment unto the same fountain as the humblest 
child of earth. 

The waters are purest nearest the fountain, but the fountain 
is figurative and everywhere existeth, and the waters are sweet- 
est unto the largest comprehension. 

Can a spirit, however wise, drink for thee, and thou still be 
refreshed by the draught ? If so, what art thou ? or what will 
thou be? but a shadow cast behind some brilliant star! Is, this 
a manly position ? Is it thy highest nobility to be second unto 
any save God ? 

If a bright and lovely spirit come to thee, it is to teach the 
enjoyment that crowneth goodness. The lesson is condensed 
in the existence thou beholdest. Perfection thou canst not see, 
but the higher spirits of thy kind reveal unto thee the pure 
joys attendant upon duty unto the dictates of perfect wisdom. 

God knoweth thy weakness, but thou canst not know His 
greatness. It seemed well in His sight, that man's spirit should 
be created, and in its creation was the proof that it shall live 
forever. 



CHAPTER X 



INSPIRED THOUGHT — EFFECT OF INSPIRATION — TRIALS, 
GOD'S FURNACE. 



There is no death with God. Imperfection alone can die. 
Imperfection alone can progress, and in its progression leave 
behind that which it is useless longer to retain. 

Change is not annihilation. The spirit of man is above all 
outward laws. The body hath affinity for earth and returneth 
thereunto ; the spirit is above all earthly ties, and cannot by 
them be retained in bondage. 

This pure child of His spirit is in the garden placed for a 
season, that the fruits may be learned to be good ; that lessons 
of wisdom may become imbedded in its being ; even such les- 
sons as unto itself shall eternally be most useful. 

Think not, oh man ! that God's great plan is a failure ! Do 
not attempt to limit His design unto thy comprehension ; 
rather strive earnestly to increase and enlarge thy understand- 
ing in such manner as will enable thee to see more of the beau- 
ties of the great design of creation. 

Thy body dies the outward death, but thy spirit enter eth the 
inward life, and the dawn of a truer, wiser, and more lovely 
existence bursts upon thee. 

Who has not felt in moments of deep distress that if the 
earthly existence were all of man, it were scarcely worth the 
having ? Who has not seen moments when the spirit did bat- 
tle for freedom, but in vain ? The earthly walls were high and 
strong, time was not done, the task was unfinished, and still 
must thou labor on until the end of the day. 

Such moments call loudly unto man to turn his thoughts 
upward ; to send higher his aspirations toward Him who is 
unchangeable and whose goodness is perfect. 

Such moments as these drive man's spirit from the outward 



124 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

things of time, and teach it not to cling unto any save Him 
who alone can confer everlasting happiness. These are guards 
directing thee heavenward, without which thy way would be 
most difficult to find. If thou didst depend upon outward 
things, and never feel remorse preying upon thy spirit, wherein 
couldst thou be taught higher lessons ? Happiness is within 
thy spirit, and hence these outward reproofs are most necessary. 

Depend upon the unchangeable, and death is a great bless- 
ing unto thee, but if thou dost depend upon the changing things 
of time, sore indeed is this great parting trial. 

Thou must love with a spiritual love, and love only spiritual 
truth, and death will come unto thee clothed as an angel of 
light, and in his cold embrace wilt thou find new life. 

They who dread their death are upon ground they do not 
fully understand, or know of duties they will not perform. The 
body loveth the earth and degradeth the spirit unto its lowly 
comprehension ; when the trial cometh, and hold after hold 
slips beneath the dying grasp, then indeed cometh remorse most 
dreadful to bear or to behold. 

The earth loveth its own ; but, oh man, so doth the spirit of 
God love its own children, and surely His love is far stronger 
than that of His effects one for another. 

The spirit that hath true knowledge of its own existence 
and the responsibilities thereof, will never shrink from death; 
neither will it seek it, for each present moment is part of its 
eternal life and as weighty as any moment can ever be. 

It is the spirit that is eternally responsible. The pains of 
flesh and the enjoyments thereof are effects consequent upon 
its existence, and must die with its death. They who love 
these pains or enjoyments dread that which separates them 
therefrom. 

Effect invariably follows cause and is in harmony therewith. 
As thou lovest, so must the fruits repay thee. As thou dost 
sow in earth, so will the earth yield unto thee fruit of the seed 
sown. 

Oh, would man believe that his future existence is the har- 
vest of his present seed sown, surely the harvest would be 
greater and much more glorious. 



THE HEALING O'F THE NATIONS. 125 

The time for the reign of thought approaches. Inspired 
men will arise from the various nations of earth and boldly 
proclaim the truth that man is responsible unto God alone. 

Thought will move the mind of mankind as it hath never 
before been moved. Free thinkers shall freely speak great and 
noble thoughts, and they shall sink deep into fertile soil, they 
shall grow and bear fruits which shall nourish the multitude as 
before it was never nourished. 

Inspired thought shall ride upon the beams of light, carrying 
wisdom unto all who listen. The multitude shall drink deeply, 
and new passages will open unto their spirits, new nourishment 
will flow in, new life spring forth; and more glorious actions 
shall crown the causing thought with realities of outward good- 
ness. 

God is never idle. His goodness ever worketh, and this 
goodness it is that shall inspire man to do nobler deeds for his 
kind, to share holier gifts ; and to induce them to live lives 
worthy of eternal children of the Most High. 

Inspiration shall cleanse the heart of man. Impurity shall 
leave him, and he shall only live for God's glory, and enjoy 
highest happiness while living. He shall become conscious of 
his high destiny, and shall act as one in his position should act, 
like unto God in all things. 

This is no idle prophecy, but is the revealed fruit of seed all 
can see who, with unbiased and unprejudiced minds, will look 
earnestly around them. 

Each moment of time doth plant seed that must yield its 
fruit, so sure as God's laws are perfect. The seed of mighty 
thoughts are sown, and grown, and must yield a bright and 
glorious harvest. 

Effect doth follow cause, and all causes follow as servants 
unto the will of the Creator of them. 

The inner nature of man is being investigated upon earth. 
Man hath seen within himself a germ of godlike powers, and he 
can no longer be restrained from searching in his own sublime 
depths for the more pure and exalted germs of eternal wisdom. 

Wisdom and freedom go hand in hand. 

When man becomes convinced of his high destiny, then will 



126 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

all bands be sundered and man will boldly proclaim, " With 
God's help I will know the truth." 

Then will the fetters be broken, then shall the shackles fall 
from spirit, mind, and limb. Then shall man first know what 
a glorious blessing is existence ; then shall he more fully realize 
that his Creator is indeed good and loving beyond his feeble 
powers to measure. 

Oh, man ! in view of what thou art to be, the spirit drinks 
in anticipation the joyous draught, and from it receives ex- 
panded life and vision ! Oh, could thou bear to trace along 
the endless line of progression, and from some bright and dis- 
tant point picture unto earth what earth-clad spirits are to be ; 
how sublime the picture ! and how few, how very few could 
realize its truthfulness ! 

Oh, as thou would reap the future, plant the present. 

If thou would be glorious then, be noble now. 

Man shall yet be free. Each moment that drops from time 
into eternity carries with it unmistakable proof that man is 
still progressing. 

The mysteries of the future are more and more plainly be- 
held as man daily groweth in comprehension of the present. 

Thoughts that in the past were unheeded and unthought of, 
save as the wild imaginings of the fanatic, are now abroad 
upon the earth, and men are seeing realities of truth in what 
were thought to be but productions of crazed brains. 

Truth is found to be within all things God hath created. 
The wiser man becomes the more can he see the follies of his 
past life, and the more will he strive to shun them. 

The wise man condemneth not. He ever searches for God's 
truth in all that he sees, and no thought or action of his 
brother man can blind his clear perception. 

They that unknowingly condemn any action or thought of a 
brother are far from that wisdom which giveth charity. 

Man hath found in his progressed present that the things of 
time, which continually change, are not capable of giving his 
spirit that high happiness which it ever craveth. The earth 
hath become dead and dusty, the spirit hath hungered for food 
from the bright and glorious presence of its pure cause. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 127 

Affinity doth supply the demand of its kindred. The cause 
doth through these desiring channels of affinity give food most 
sweet and nourishing. Angelic bands carry down unto earth 
joys fresh and pure from heaven. God's voice speaketh in holy 
tones unto the enraptured spirit of man, and new visions of 
more glorious life appear. 

New fountains are opened, new waters gush forth, and in 
their pure channels the thirst of man is quenched. Streams of 
light and love flow into every household and shed their rays of 
joyous happiness. 

God hath spoken unto the bound spirits, and the sweet vi- 
brations have loosened the earthly hold. Man will arise and 
shake off his loads of dust to journey heavenward. The beau- 
teous earth seen by new eyes, by newly illumined spirits, shall 
glow in heaven-born beauties, and man shall behold in his dusty 
home celestial pleasures growing. 

That voice, that power which in its tones gives new and 
lovely life, hath loosed the spirits of men and paved their way 
to earth. He hath opened the channels of his own spirit, 
which doth center within all things, and hath let out his spirit 
children to raise the fading star of hope and set it firmly in 
man's firmament. 

They have come to earth, piercing the shrouds of ignorance 
and error and doubt, they have proven unto man's most in- 
ward feelings that the future need no more be feared. 

They have taught to fear only himself, and love only God. 
They have taught their own existence, and in this simple truth 
have they given mankind food for eternal thanks. They have 
rent the veil of the future, and in unmistakable proofs have 
said, " we live." 

God hath so created man that he must seek proofs of all 
things which do not strike his instinctive perceptions as truth ; 
and even these perceptions are brought before his spiritual 
tribunal, and there searched to see if they contain dross. 

The great tide of knowledge rolleth onward and upward. 
Man is journeying onward toward God. Daily does he grow 
and strengthen ; daily does his bark glide more swiftly on over 
the peaceful waters, impelled by his own sturdy strokes. 



128 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Progressive powers redouble upon him ; his spirit hath 
higher aspirations, his mind hath higher thoughts, and his 
body hath daily more noble deeds to accomplish as their 
outward servant. 

The tide of spiritual elevation doth flow through man's 
whole being, and his most trivial outward action becometh, as 
a result thereof, more refined, and more elevating unto all who 
behold him. 

God worketh in the spirits of men. He sheddeth around 
their spirit the light of knowledge, and the happiness given 
only by love ; the light sendeth out rays, and the happiness 
smileth unto every beholder. 

He operates with causes and the effects must glorify him. 
By making the spirit wise and loving, the mind is elevated, and 
the passions are destroyed. By elevating the mind, higher 
avenues of action are discovered in which the body can act. 

And by nobler and higher actions man is benefited, not only 
in the outward things of life, but also is he benefited by reflect- 
ing upon the causes which prompt and guide the actions. 

Men should seek spiritual elevation first of all, for all other 
parts of his being must follow. The man who is truly elevated 
in spirit will always be known by his fruits. True elevation is 
practical as the truths causing and composing the elevation, for 
all elevation is in wisdom and love. 

God's inspiration will never produce sickly or over-grown 
fruits. He is perfectly harmonious, and his fruits must be ever 
in harmony with him, and with all things, as parts of him. 

His wisdom will certainly never inflate any spirit, but, on 
the contrary, will ever make the receiver most humble. The 
spirit of man who boasts of wisdom hath it not. Humility is 
part of wisdom, for wisdom knoweth and revealeth man's im- 
perfection. 

Wise and loving spirits dwell and circulate within the 
avenues of wisdom and love. They have no affinity for aught 
else, and if man would merit their presence and communion, 
he too must enter these pure affinities. 

He who seeketh inspired wisdom with all sincerity, will be 
permitted to enter the celestial plane, wherein is all truth, and 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 129 

all love his enlarged spiritual powers can comprehend. And 
as he groweth in wisdom, so groweth his power of growing, and 
ever onward, ever upward is his path. By his side are the 
pure in heart, the meek, the poor in spirit, and those who 
mourned for the willfulness of man. 

The inspired man knoweth wherein is his highest happiness 
found, and ever does he seek to enter these pure and high 
affinities. It makes no difference unto him how any spirit 
attempts to guide his footsteps : he hath but one path, but one 
star to follow; the path is truth, and the star is God's light 
within him. 

This holy star sheds upon his spirit rays bright and glorious. 
They encircle all things he gazeth upon ; and they become trans- 
parent unto his vision ; in all things his feelings are his guide, 
and they do not deceive him. 

The inspired need no guide save God. They behold Him 
in all that is good, wise, and loving, and will only listen for 
his voice. If his voice sound not, they cannot move, for this 
voice alone can move them. 

They reject all error as soon as discovered, are never big- 
oted in feeling, are ever open unto truth, and ever most worthy 
followers of the light within their own spirits. 

They seek no communion of spirits, for the spirit of God 
revealeth their highest good unto them. This doth not anni- 
hilate the love of kindred, for this kindred feeling is a result 
of, and caused by the love of God. Spiritual communion 
cometh unto those who seek it, but inspired wisdom cometh 
only from God. 

No spirit created can usurp the supreme power of Him who 
is creator. The man who prays sincerely for God's guidance 
can have it, so sure as God is good, unlimited, and perfect. 
The highest confidence of man in God giveth him purest per- 
ceptions of the things he can enjoy. 

No spirit can create man, and hence cannot know what unto 
any given man is highest good. A spirit may comprehend 
many general truths, many parts of the one eternal good, and 
may teach them, but can never unerringly guide the destiny of 
any man God hath created. 



130 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

The truth that a man doth depend entirely upon God, open- 
eth unto his inspired gaze the bright realms wherein such 
dependents dwell, and these kindred beings bring unto him 
outward proofs, as it were, of the realities of his hallowed 
inward feelings. 

Thus God's goodness becometh as an intelligent feast, where- 
unto all are admitted who can comprehend the food given. 

They who love wisdom partake of it, for herein is their 
affinity. They who love God as the cause of all they love, 
can surely receive love from him who causeth all their powers 
of loving. 

If thou hast affinity for spirits, instead of God in the spirits, 
thou art certainly in affinity with effect, instead of cause. 

Thou can be in affinity unto God through the channels or 
essences used in thy creation. Thou canst not get without 
Him ; thou canst not escape from His power ; thou canst not 
avoid Him ; thy existence is of Him, and how canst thou anni- 
hilate thy affinity for him who gave affinity ? 

God is general, universal God ; He is universal, perfect 
good. Thou hast a share in this universal God, this universal 
good, without which thou could not exist, and with which thou 
must exist forever. Thou movest within Him ; He moveth 
within thee. His happiness, his perfection demanded thee, 
else thou hadst not been ; thy happiness, thy perfection de- 
mandeth Him, and in Him is all thou canst find or enjoy. 

Some would limit God unto their own ideas of what is un- 
limited ; such would say that God cannot confer individual 
blessings. Then why did He create individuals ? Why does 
man see, hear, think, and act for himself alone ? The truth 
that God's goodness is universal doth not annihilate man's 
individuality, for this very individuality is fruit, and proof of 
God's love. 

Individuals drink for themselves of His wisdom and love, 
but that which prompts them to drink is His own holy love for 
them. The truth that God hath many children doth only 
prove that His love is great. He cannot be partial, because 
He is perfect, but to render individuals happy, he must confer 
individual blessings. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 131 

It must be remembered that all spirit is the spirit of God, 
and that each inheritor of this spirit is entitled to access unto 
Him who gave the inheritance. To isolate any spirit from 
Him were to prove his love and wisdom fallible. 

Within each and every spirit man inherits, or which is 
created, is an image of God. Man is a germ of godlike powers. 
He is the product of perfection; with powers of comprehend- 
ing his own glorious destiny. A loved child and companion of 
a perfect father. That Father giveth all things existence ; 
every desire of man, every aspiration of spirit asceudeth unto 
him who gave the power to aspire after more refined wisdom. 
The power of asking was given, else man could not ask ; 
the power of answering is God's, else man could never be 
happy. 

The inspired man receiveth inspiration from God direct. 
Within his own individual existence is that which can only 
attract the influence of the most high, and is only in affinity 
with him. The central essence of his existence pierceth the 
most inward spirit of man ; in a direct line descends the power, 
and instantly is the truth made known. If this be not true, 
how can man be eternally progressive ? He must be in affinity 
eternally with that which eternally he cannot encompass, or 
fully comprehend. 

Man ascendeth in aspiration this line of high affinity, and 
just so far as he can reach, just so far doth perfect wisdom 
descend and fill his spirit full of knowledge. 

And if myriad aspirations are ascending unto the great 
fountain, what then ? Is He imperfect, limited ? Is his arm 
weakened ? Is his wisdom limited ? Can, oh man, effect en- 
compass and baffle its cause ? Surely it were a difficult task 
for imperfection to set bounds unto perfection. 

If God cannot answer, who, greater than God, gave power 
to ask ? How can an individual aspire after what an indi- 
vidual cannot receive ? If he aspire to be God, the god is 
fruit of, and limited by his own aspiration ; by the idea which 
at the time represented the god. 

If then man can receive direct counsel from the Most High, 
by cultivating affinity for Him and his wisdom, why should he 



182 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

seek to obtain wisdom from those whose wisdom is at least im- 
perfect ? 

He should love all of God's children, and be willing to do 
them good, but should ever be most careful, lest his love is for 
the imperfect and changeable part. For if he love the change- 
able, his love must change with it, but if he love the unchange- 
able, then will his love grow and strengthen daily in that purity 
which endureth forever. 

Be ever guarded well on all that relates unto thy future des- 
tiny, for it is still beyond thee, and, as it were, uncertain unto 
all thy senses. Thou cannot tell one moment beyond the 
present ; thou cannot say what thou wilt be, and this very un- 
certainty should make thee to keep all thy portals guarded. 

That thou canst not err, God hath, in supreme goodness, 
placed within thee an unerring guide unto thy individuality, 
and no new or strange light should be permitted to render 
thine own dim. Thou art one of thyself. God created thee, 
and surely He must have known all that thou could ever want, 
and supplied them before the first want had birth. 

They who give up their individual powers unto any spirit, save 
the spirit of God, and voluntarily lose control thereof, must not 
expect to receive credit for their gift. God doth not ask thee 
to cease to be thyself; and if any spirit ask thee to become 
blind, do not expect to find thy sight improved. 

Beware, lest thou become a blinded leader of those who 
otherwise would plainly see. Beware, lest thy blindness cause 
a brother to stumble. Before thou becomest teacher, first be 
willing to be taught, and know who is teaching. 

Be passive only unto God. When thou dost feel his divine 
influence encircling thy being, then be thou as the little child 
in spirit, humble, passive, and obedient unto His will as it shall 
be made known unto thee. 

Thou can know his influence from all others. Thou can tell 
instantly the inspiring presence, and no power created can de- 
ceive thee by usurping His influence. No one save God can 
give thee unmistakable assurance of His communion. 

When thou becomest an instrument unto His will, thou dost 
feel confidence in the truthfulness of all that will be permitted 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 133 

to flow through thee. Thy vision is enlarged, thy comprehen- 
sion expanded, and thou knowest, and dost feel that which thou 
dost teach. 

God requireth no uncertain action, as hath elsewhere been 
said ; and thou dost through certainty of the truthfulness of 
thy teachings, teach more confidently and successfully. 

Herein is the great stay of the inspired, they know they are 
teaching that which unaided man can never gainsay. 

The inspired feel truth, and thus know its eternal strength. 
All teaching with them is but the relating of their own expe- 
rience. They can through the channel of their high affinities 
pierce the mist-enveloped future, and bring back unto man 
truths found therein ; and more than all else, they can know 
from their own experience what is truth. 

God's wisdom is practical, as the experience of his teachers 
will prove unto them, and they who would teach for him must 
expect to feel all that is taught. He will never use dead in- 
struments to prove the beauties of life. His appointed become 
wise under their instructor, and become monuments unto his 
goodness. 

Thus shall ye know them : if they daily grow more wise, 
more humble and loving, more simple and trusting, then know 
of a certainty they are daily approaching him ; then know 
their path leadeth unto happiness and peace. 

They cannot go back and retain their gift, because the giver 
is above them, and their destiny leadeth toward him. 

Shouldst thou feel called, oh man, heed well the voice that 
calls, for if at times it doth seem to lead into trials and tempt- 
ations, into snares for thy unwary feet ; and thou dost at 
times feel encompassed with difficulties thou canst not sur- 
mount, oh remember there can be no difficulties unto him whose 
servant thou art, and view in trials that love which teacheth 
wisdom. 

There is a plane where trials cease, and temptations are no 
more, but upon this plane animals cannot enter. 

So long as thou art in flesh, bear patiently its pains. Do 
not let thy spiritual being suffer, merely because thou hast 
outward trials, but rather let it learn wisdom from them, 



134 THE HEALING OP THE NATIONS. 

and make thy body thy stepping-stone to aid thee into 
heaven. 

He that hath no trials, hath no experience in overcoming. 

Trials are God's proving furnace. No man receiveth inspired 
wisdom who is not first well tried. Inspired wisdom containeth 
within itself a trial, for it raiseth the spirit unto heaven, while 
the body is of earth. Man groweth into knowledge as trial 
paves his way. 

Oh, man ! think not that thy trials are insurmountable bar- 
riers unto thy progress, they pave thy way unto God's presence. 
Murmur not at his uncomprehended goodness, but journey 
onward ; carry thy burden upward ; thou canst never sink or 
fail while in the good cause of truth. 

Cast from thee all untruth. No matter how numerous the 
worshipers at a false, idolatrous shrine, turn thou away, and 
upon the simple rock perform thy sacrifice, even though the 
sacrifice be thy body and animal life. 

God is thy only watchword and reply. Teach fearlessly 
what He shall give, knowing as thou dost that he doth give 
wisdom unto thee. Never look to consequences, for only good 
results can flow from truth.' Do not expect those who will not 
listen unto God's voice, to have wisdom equal unto thine own, 
and be most charitable unto all. 



CHAPTER XI. 

NOBILITY LOVE'S FRUIT— WANT STIMULATES PROGRESSION 
— PROFESS NOT — DOUBTS — PRESENT TRUTH ETERNAL 
STRENGTH. 

Clearness of perception cometh with inspiration. It ren- 
dereth the being in which it enters perfectly luminous for the 
time being, and no one need teach in doubt. 

There is no mystery in truth. It is plain and transparent. 
It is good and attractive unto the spirit of man. Its very sim- 
plicity and transparent purity render it invisible unto eyes 
whose vision is not purified. Its goodness renders it repulsive 
unto those of opposite affinities. 

Oh, it is a blessed privilege to feel God's presence. He is 
present unto all, but oh, all do not feel this joyous love flow- 
ing, as it were, through their being, giving new life and new 
happiness each moment in passing. They are as the sleeper, 
who heareth not the heavenly strain, and, as the sleeper, think 
it hath not sounded. 

How canst thou see truth, which is transparently pure, if 
thou hast not purified thy vision ? Thou wilt look and search 
in vain in its very midst, but, because of its very simplicity, 
thou canst not find it. And how canst thou purify thy vision, 
unless it be by bathing thy eyes in the fountain whence cometh 
all purity ? 

Oh God ! would man have more confidence in thy power, 
and less confidence in his own weakness, how very rapid would 
be his progression ! Thy loving wisdom would expand his com- 
prehension, and he would daily grow in thy growth, and 
strengthen in thy strength. 

He hath wrapped thy lovely form and all thy pure attri- 
butes in his own mystic clouds, and hath held up falsehood for 
truth. He hath lost thy light in preferring his own dark- 



136 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

ness. He hath forgotten his cause, and worshiped his own 
effects. 

Every man hath his own idea of God, and this idea is ever 
above his present, which proveth the idea to be, and to have 
always been, the result of inspiration, for that which is repre- 
sented to be forever above powers which are progressing, can 
only be the infinite being whose voice is inspiration. 

Man cannot conceive of an infinite being, because his powers 
are finite ; but his finite powers could not ever grow in size, 
and strength, and wisdom, unless there was an infinite creator. 

God's infinite power could not by man be comprehended, 
and hence it is that man measures for himself of God's infinity. 
And as man's measure is progressive, only infinite power could 
fill it through the eternal expansion. 

Inasmuch as man knoweth his own imperfection and his own 
progression, he can also know there is perfection which doth 
not progress, because he is not that perfection. 

Oh, believe that perfection cannot be limited by imperfec- 
tion. Believe that finite powers cannot encompass the infinite. 
Believe that because thou dost exist, and can commune with 
thy fellow-man, that the cause of thy existence, and of the 
powers used in communing, can also commune with thee, His 
own loved child. 

Do not believe His love less loving than thy own. Do not 
believe His intelligence less than thine, and do not believe that 
all thy daily experience hath no mission, save to torture thy spirit. 

Thou art infinite in existence, but finite in power. 

Thou dost live forever, but thy powers progress. Thou 
canst never more exist than at present, but hast daily and 
hourly more power, so long as true unto thy own nature. 

Thus, then, thy existence is God-given and eternal, and who, 
save Him, should direct or instruct thee ? 

Does it seem probable unto thee that any being created can 
so well instruct or guide thee, as that supreme one who pro- 
duced thy existence from within his own ? Dost thou think he 
would sever thee from him, and make thee to be dependent 
upon another ? Is this the nature of pure, universal, unlimited 
love ? 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 187 

Oh man, how blind thou art ! Thou dost look at the num- 
bers of God's children, which to thee seem unlimited ; and 
thou dost forget that He is within all, and all are within Him ! 
Thou wouldst limit His power, whose power thou must use in 
the very act ! 

Thou art blind, indeed. But, cheer thee, brother, the dawn 
of untrammeled thought approaches. God's voice hath moved 
the troubled waters, and life shall come from within the light, 
whose very brightness blinds thee. 

The human mind shall arise and shake off the dark dreams 
of night ; shall come forth in the light of day, acknowledging 
no superior, save the mind divine. 

The spirit of earth-clad man hath ascended unto the holy 
fountain, whence flow the inspired waters ; it hath drank 
deeply ; the waters have flowed down upon the organs of the 
mind, and man hath stood up humbly before God, yet firmly 
before man, and hath spoken freely the eternal truths. 

Wisdom doth make man brave. He that knoweth God to 
be within him, and himself to be an eternal object of divine 
love, hath naught to fear. When conscious of God's sustaining 
love, what can make afraid ? He who feareth man, doth not 
love God. 

Love doth ennoble man. He who loveth sincerely and truly, 
doth within his own being feel that strength and purity which 
will ever elevate the spirit and mind of man. Nobility is fruit 
of true love. God did implant within his child seed of His 
own greatness in the germ of human love. 

Human love is but the comprehending of God's love. No 
man can appropriate all of God's love unto his own use, be- 
cause he cannot understand it, and just so far as his love goes, 
just at the same point it will invariably be found his compre- 
hension ceases. 

Love and wisdom are always in perfect harmony. The wise 
are always loving, and the loving among men are wise in hap- 
piness. Wisdom is never dead. 

Wisdom, emanating from the divine comprehension, is pure, 
and hath the strength of all knowledge. Love must ever give 
wisdom unto all who feel its joy. Love which bindeth God 
10 



138 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

unto all, and all unto God, is the proof of its own wisdom ; it 
maketh man to feel knowledge. 

The truth is wisdom and love united. Harmony is derived 
from oneness. Free man, thou art a true image, a true son of 
God. When thou dost nobly and bravely stand upon the 
broad and boundless platform of truth, and with inspired voice 
teach purely unto mankind, thou art like unto Him who made 
thee. When thou dost proclaim the dignity, the height of 
manhood, thou art like unto the hand of God pointing unto 
endless pleasures. 

Let no man cling to thy skirts ; shake loose his hold, and bid 
him go to God for highest wisdom. 

Yes, send them unto God, even as thou hast gone, in faith 
and trusting humility. Tell them that all who ask of imper- 
fect givers must expect to receive imperfect gifts. Tell man- 
kind that the spirit sickens for the want of the one high food, 
which God alone can give. Tell them that no man can ask of 
God in vain. 

Oh man, trust in God. When thou dost need, as thy im- 
perfection must, oh seek Him, who made thy wants, that He 
could give and thou receive. Oh believe, that in thy very 
wanting, thou givest God pleasure, not in thy pain, but in the 
proof that thou art progressing. 

He who wants not cannot progress. The man who does not 
want, is as one who does not exist. Existence came from want, 
for had God not wanted anything, how could anything have 
been ? Surely there cannot be that in existence which perfec- 
tion doth not desire to be. 

Analyze well all truth that meets thy spiritual vision. Trace 
all thou canst to earthly, known principles. Never fear to admit 
truth into thy being. Be honest, candid. Condemn nothing 
in ignorance, and when wise thou wilt find little to condemn. 

Heed well thy own experience. Do not take the experience 
of every man in preference unto thy own. Experience is prac- 
tical truth unto thee ; thou knowest thy own feelings far better 
than thou canst tell them, and this is equally true of others. 

Build thy spiritual self as thou dost thy outward form, and 
thou wilt never enter heaven a stranger unto its happiness. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 139 

Do not expect too much. Thou art imperfect, and so must 
all be which emanates from thy hand. God is perfect, but thou 
art not God. Thy spirit groweth from ripened fruits on earth. 
Ripe actions produce seed whose fruit spirit enjoyeth and re- 
ceiveth strength from. 

Man is the tree of knowledge as compared with all other ex- 
istences in the great spiritual garden. Actions are his fruit, 
and from his actions must he gain knowledge of what is his 
highest good. 

How beautiful is the wisdom of God. Filleth all things with 
consistent and pure love. Each and every portion receiveth of 
him love as his wisdom is comprehended. 

The greatest truth is simplest wisdom. Man's vanity often 
stands between his spirit and wisdom which would instantly re- 
move his vanity. Oh, beware how thou dost think thyself 
wise ! Pause ere thou dost exult over thy own littleness. Who 
so blind as he who shutteth out the light ? Who so unwise as 
he who thinketh there is naught yet unlearned ? 

Beware of worshiping thy own imperfection. 

The highest good man can obtain cometh from God, and is 
made manifest in action. God acteth toward man as man act- 
eth toward God, for man's actions must regulate all which he 
receiveth. 

Give as thou hast given unto thee. Fear not that in thy 
limited liberality thou can impoverish God's unbounded charity. 
Think not that a word or sentence shall contain or explain 
all wisdom. As thou feelest good in doing, thus is it good to 
do. Be just unto thyself. Act worthily. Strive to merit thy 
own good opinion. 

Inspiration, holy voice, descend, and unto my spirit impart 
my Father's will. Teach my duty, make plain my way. Guide 
me ever. Even as the varying wind controls the harmony of 
the harp, so do thou make my spirit to vibrate in unison with 
the will divine. 

Descend, holy emblem of God's voice, and quicken my in- 
most soul. Oh, let me live again in the understanding of wis- 
dom and the communion of which love is the beginning and 
ending. 



140 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Let me again teach that which unto me is truth. Oh, give 
wisdom, strength and purity. 

Father, let thy will be done. All knowledge is thine, and 
in thy wisdom I fain would act. Mould me as seemeth unto 
thee well. Man's highest must be low as compared with thee, 
yet, oh Father, I feel thou lovest me. Thou art in me, I in 
thee. I am full, can hold no more ; thou art, oh, what art thou 
not ? Boundless, infinite ! And though boundless, thou art 
wise, and though infinite, thou art love. 

Thus art thou in all places. The humblest smiling home 
hath thee within it ; the universe is bounded by thy wisdom. 
Thou art all and every part. Yet what unto thyself thou art 
thou knowest. 

I feel thee present, for I know my own unworthiness, and 
would hide away from thy face. Thou knowest me as I am to 
thee, I feel thee as thou art to me, a loving, instructing parent. 

Blessed are they that find thee. Oh, my brother, look not 
afar off for the coming of thy Father. He is within thee, thou 
cannot turn him out. • He loveth thee, thou cannot reject his 
love. He teacheth thee, thou cannot reject his wisdom. Thou 
art like unto a harp, watch well thy strings that they give 
forth harmony when swept by his breath. 

How much better to keep worthy of producing such high 
and holy tones as shall enchant thy Father than to slacken thy 
strings until only discord will result. 

The feeling shall repay all thy trouble. God is not a hard 
master. They who think his tasks hard have not received them. 
When goodness is thought to be weighty, the thought annihi- 
lates the good, so far as the thinker is concerned. 

God hath no unwilling servant. Better not to act at all than 
to imagine thou art acting for a loving Father when thou dost 
not love. Do not be ambitious to appear unto him as a hypo- 
crite. 

Plain, honest, simple action, humble and pure aspirations 
and a feeling of dependence upon his guiding power must surely 
exalt thee, but the opposite of these cannot. 

Do not lose thyself in webs of profession, rather make no 
profession at all. What profession doth God make? 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 141 

Do not profess to love God, but love him to the best of thy 
ability, for he is worthy. There is danger in professing at all ; 
thus, thou may est get to thinking that professing is acting. 

Doth God profess to love thee ? Rather doth He not do it ? 
Seem what thou art. Be upright and candid. Shun profes- 
sors and professions. 

Feeling as thou hast, that God is thy Father, and is not afar 
off, why shouldst thou weaken this feeling by boasting of it? 
Learn the deep beauty of silence. Keep quiet. Canst thou 
tell what God's love is for thee ? Nay, thou cannot, for it is 
immeasurable. 

Let those who can make professions do it, but remember al- 
ways, it is the meaning of the word that conveys most wisdom. 
The sound is outward, but the meaning or feeling of knowl- 
edge is within. 

Plainness of truth proveth nearness of God. 

When He approaches thee thy understanding expandeth. 

Know, oh man, thy Creator liveth. Thou shalt inherit eter- 
nal life. 

Knowledge shall be given equal unto thy power of re- 
ceiving. 

When the soul is troubled, whence cometh the peace? Can 
thou produce from thy own troubled elements order and har- 
mony ? Can thou command stillness when thy very command- 
ing powers are rebellious ? 

Oh, if God is not all-powerful and eternal, wherefore hast 
thou existence ? Existence thou hast, and it is a blessing. It 
is the foundation of all thou art. It is thy great proof of God's 
existence. For inasmuch as thou art comparatively great and 
gifted with noble powers, knowing and feeling wisdom ; thy 
whole being capable of vibrating unto the gentle touch of love 
which thou cannot produce more than the resultant pleasure; 
therefore is there a creative existence capable of supplying all 
that any desire can crave. 

Didst thou know all concerning thyself, why should another 
create thee ? If thou art greatest of all created beings, yet 
knowest not thy beginning nor yet ending, how great indeed 
must He be who knoweth the beginning and ending of every 



142 THE HEALING OP THE NATIONS. 

atom of thy body, every thought of thy mind, and every aspi- 
ration of thy spirit ! 

As thou dost attempt to fill thy progressive nature, thou dost 
run past old proofs and evidences of the ever-present existence 
of God. New doors must be opened and new views given, for 
man cannot stand still in any one position. 

Thou may doubt and dread, but thy Father's love surrounds 
thee, and doubting His wisdom only makes it appear in the end 
still more triumphant. Doubts thou must have. Do not ima- 
gine thy doubting is sufficient to weaken divine power. Doubt 
on, all thou canst, but heed well the answers given thee. It is 
well to doubt, yet it is better to trust. Doubt thy own igno- 
rance, yet trust thy knowledge. 

Thy own experience is the result of thy own existence ; it 
belongeth unto thee, and will forever. God being perfect, cannot 
destroy that which he hath created. He created thy existence, 
a seed from which groweth the experience of his truth. The 
existence is given unto thee and is thine own, the experience is 
thy own and must eternally be, else God doth not give perfect 
gifts and is himself responsible for their imperfection. 

There is that within thee which teacheth thy responsibility. 
If wary reasoners would tell thee that thy experience results 
from circumstances beyond thy control, do thou remember that 
the sum of circumstances is God. Because they cannot see be- 
low the surface is no reason why they should limit thy vision. 
Thy existence, so to speak, is the result of God-created circum- 
stances. Yet why let circumstances in between thee and God? 
Say at once, plainly, God is my Father, circumstances are my 
child. 

To comprehend the purity of God thou must be rendered 
pure. Art thou pure ? Surely knowledge is given to know 
the truth ; dost thou know the truth? Love rendereth happy ; 
art thou so ? Thus thou seest the dross must constantly leave 
thee, be purged out of thy being continually, in order that 
purer, wiser, and more lovely thou may become. 

Ask now, should not the fruits of a God-given existence be 
pure, and wise, and lovely ? They are ever so, and the more 
refined thy vision becomes, the plainer wilt thou see this truth. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 143 

Do not suppose thou can see clearly in darkness. Perfect 
light blindeth imperfect vision. Thou must grow in truth, and 
knowledge, and love, even as thou dost in the outward. 

God's laws harmonize ; as thou growest thou shalt strengthen. 

Grow in truth, and thou shalt in its strength be great. 

Grow in weakness, and thy very greatness will be but a 
great weakness. Grow in wisdom, and thou shalt strengthen 
in love. 

Thy most trivial action ofttimes uncovers most precious gems. 

The little things of thy present may be great indeed here- 
after. 

Thou cannot tell from what simple causes all things are 
produced. 

God's wisdom is plain ; seek and thou shalt find. He hath 
no need to conceal, for He is perfect. If thou cannot learn 
of him, who can teach thee ? 

When seeking, reject not what is found. Thou can always 
learn from all things some part of wisdom. 

God's love is within thee, growing and strengthening con- 
tinually. Oh, do not labor against its sweet voice. Do not 
strive by discord to drown the harmony. Thou alone can reap 
the fruit of seed thou dost plant. Why plant thorns to prick 
thee ? Why harbor discord wherein harmony alone should 
dwell. 

Strive to live and move continually in full consciousness of 
the divine presence. Let every word spoken vibrate in unison 
with his voice. Let every thought be opened unto his light, 
and every action guided by his love. 

Let universal goodness be thy end and aim, whether in 
heaven or earth, for there is nothing enduring but what is 
good. Make no distinction wherever thou art, for God is 
everywhere, and his power supreme. 

Why should thou care whether in flesh or not ? God is 
within thee, thou in him. Wert thou not necessary unto his 
happiness, thou could not be in existence. 

The bright sunlight, playing upon the ocean waters, causes 
them to rise above the earth. The shifting of nature's endless 
scenes causes the spray to condense, to fall, perchance upon a 



144 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

little lovely flower amidst a barren desert. The flower is re- 
freshed, and giveth out its purest breath, its sweetest scent — 
unto whom ? Doth the flower ask this question ? Then why 
should thou murmur because thou hast only God to glorify, 
and perchance make happy ? 

Earth is heaven's base. 

Oh man ! When the eternally present hath carried thee 
through myriad ages as measured by time, and thou dost begin 
to fathom the sublimer depths of perfect wisdom, even then 
wilt thou find in thy earth-memory the base of all thy truths. 
Even then wilt thou have at times to refer to some of thy ex- 
perience in the dimly distant past. 

Oh, if thou believe this, heed well thy present. Gather 
flowers while the light remaineth, they are thine forever, and 
oh ! their sweetness multiplies with thy wisdom. 

Could thou comprehend now as thou in the great future will 
comprehend the beauty and wisdom of thy earthly existence, 
thou would indeed know that heaven is ever present, even as 
God. 

If thou art not in heaven, blame only thyself. Thou art 
creator of thy own happiness. Use lasting materials. Do not 
waste time in building what will be useless in eternity. Truth 
alone endureth. God is all truth. 

God hath furnished thee with great avenues leading unto 
great knowledge. Thou hast sight to collect what cannot be 
heard ; hearing to collect what cannot be seen ; taste, smell, 
feeling, all to assist in gathering together into thy own store- 
house food which shall be used to help sustain thee, even when 
pure enough to converse with thy heavenly Father face to face. 

Thou will recall the warbling of a bird, the tender tone of 
some loving word spoken, or the harsh grating of some dis- 
cordant sound, to help illustrate a problem, which perchance 
thou hast received from thy Father. 

Thy vision will remember the glowing landscape, soft sun- 
light, and flitting clouds. Thy sense of smell will linger still 
around the sweets of earth, and thy taste shall yet, through 
memory's feeling, good truths reveal to thee. 

Behold the harmony wisdom would reveal. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 145 

Outward nature is full of instructive lessons. Thou can 
gather truths from every tree, bud, and blossom. 

All things do harmonize, and unto him who seeketh there is 
always sufficient proof of this harmony. 

Could there be one dew-drop not wanted, or one blade of 
grass too many, God must be thus proven imperfect by his 
unharmonious works. When searching for wisdom in the out- 
ward, be slow to come to judgment. The cause and conse- 
quences are often widely separated. A hurricane may turn 
and twist the huge trees of the forest, rend the mountain mass, 
or carry destruction across the face of the ocean, and yet not 
move in the least degree beyond what is required for the har- 
mony of the whole. 

Thou cannot learn too much. Thy brain hath organs which, 
played upon by God's ever-changing thought, must continually 
implant within thy spiritual being new and lovely truths. 
Learn of everything. There is nothing, however small, but 
can boast relationship unto divinity. Thy varied powers re- 
quire as varied food. Thou cannot see the loudest tone, neither 
can thou hear the loveliest landscape ; should either the tone 
or the landscape be condemned ? Each and every power thou 
hast, has its working place within some part of the Father's 
garden. 

When seeking wisdom, strive to render all found thy own. 
Strive to know what knowledge is. When thou shall in future 
seek to solve a problem of importance unto thee, it will not 
avail thee anything to refer to a brother's wisdom ; thine must 
all truths become to be of benefit unto thee. 

Thou art harvesting God's truth. Every truth thou dost 
select and implant within thee, to take home to Him in the end 
of thy day, causeth his spirit to rejoice. Seeking knowledge 
is acceptable worship. The more truth thou dost comprehend, 
the more true knowledge thou hast ; the higher, holier, and 
more pure thou art ; the more creditable worshiper of Him, 
whose holiness, purity, and knowledge are perfect. 



CHAPTER XII. 

IDENTITY PROOF OF IMMORTALITY— TRUST IN GOD— LOVE 
REMOVETH FEAR— DUTY PRAISETH GOD — GOODNESS 
NEVER RESTETH. 

There is no useless truth. Every hair of thy head, every 
pore of thy skin, and every thought of thy mind, however 
small, are all useful unto thee. It is thy interest to be ever 
seeking truth ; it adds to thy happiness, and it ends in giving 
thee knowledge of everlasting strength and usefulness. 

Be not looking for great things continually, for it is from 
the common things of thy daily life thou dost receive most 
knowledge. He who looks continually ahead, loseth sight of 
the things around him. The simpler truths become to thee, 
the nearer art thou unto God ; or the nearer art thou unto the 
perfect comprehension of godliness. 

Gather small truths until thou can comprehend large ones. 
Do not desire more food than thou can digest. 

Simplicity is no fault, it is a great virtue. What man so 
great as to fully know God's simplest truth ? The simplest, 
plainest, and greatest truth man can know is his own existence. 
From this simple, broad, and firm base riseth his column of 
living proofs that he exists but as one among myriad ones, all 
centering in the one whence all came, and through whose 
truths all knowledge cometh. 

This is God's resting-place within his reasoning child. All 
else but the simple truth, existence, may crumble away, but 
this of itself is sufficient to prove eternal being, immortality. 

I am. To know and feel this is knowledge of my own ex- 
istence. This knowledge and this feeling of conscious self- 
existence arise from powers within me, which, though mine, 
were not by me produced. No man can raise proof, unless 
within himself the seed is sown. The Father planteth, the 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 147 

child reapeth. Surely the cause of powers which give me 
knowledge of my own existence, must be infinitely greater 
than those powers. 

Powers which reveal my existence, my being, must come as 
fruits from an existence infinitely above and beyond the high- 
est powers of my being. The Creator is greater than that 
created. 

The hungering spirit seeketh in every direction for eternal 
food. The changing things of time carry no proofs which will 
satisfy the constant yearning of the human spirit after that 
which is eternal. 

Created to hunger and thirst after righteousness, purity, 
wisdom, the spirit sickens when compelled to dwell only among 
the changing outward. 

Yet, from the constant changing of its outer covering, the 
spirit can learn one valuable lesson. The truth, that through 
successive changes of body, the one spirit retains its own con- 
sciousness, its own identity, should prove that it will still retain 
its own conscious identity beyond the great change which de- 
prives it entirely of its outer covering. 

I have a consciousness of my own existence. This con- 
sciousness centers within my existence, becoming part of it. 
Every little truth I can gather from God's great storehouse 
becomes a little part of me, which I know from my own con- 
sciousness. These little truths are mine in knowledge. This 
becomes a fixed fact, or truth, which is as important as all the 
universe unto me, for it proveth myself, my self-consciousness, 
to be one of God's truths, and, therefore, necessarily eternal. 

Insanity or madness may overtake me before death, and 
rend my being with agonies terrible to behold, yet surely they 
cannot in their fury obliterate one of God's truths, for they 
themselves in their wildest moments are results produced by 
infringements upon these same pure truths, and are thus ren- 
dered negative proofs of His harmony. 

My consciousness is as much a truth as is any truth of which 
I can gain knowledge, for all my knowledge must become part 
of this consciousness before it is mine. 

From this view, immortality is rendered plain unto the rea- 



148 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

sorting mind, when inspiration and revelation might, from the 
mind's peculiar organization, fail of convincement. 

This truth, immortality, being established, it becometh every 
man, every child of God, to heed well the harvest-time, and 
gather only such truths as shall be most elevating to their own 
particular nature. 

No man, conscious of eternal life, can be careless of his ever- 
present existence. The gift of knowledge, wisdom, teacheth 
humility and thankfulness. The humble spirit which, through 
wisdom, knoweth itself to be an eternal child of God, feeleth 
joy and thankfulness words cannot express. 

" God is good," it is easy to say ; but to feel God is good, is 
to never forget the feeling. Such knowledge giveth happiness. 
The spirit seems enlightened from His own loving presence, 
and joy removeth all fear. Oh, this feeling cannot be bought, 
and will never be parted with by the one enjoying it. 

The most subtle powers of reasoning cannot produce happi- 
ness. Happiness groweth from internal feeling, from affinity 
for the pure, the holy, and good. Happiness cometh from 
trusting love. He who hath confidence in God's goodness is 
happy. He who hath confidence that his own existence is, and 
will be eternal, must feel perfect joy. 

Oh, what a sublime problem is man ! We pause upon the 
threshold of his existence, and wonder and gaze as the new- 
born babe, almost in age as ignorant, and oh, that we may be 
as innocent. 

There is one who knoweth all. God, our Father and Crea- 
tor, knoweth every little turn and change which can be pro- 
duced by any being created, for our greatest is least unto 
him. 

It is self-evident that the producer must be greater than that 
which he produces. Man is produced, and did not produce 
himself, therefore he must have been produced, and by a being 
greater than himself, whose impress he must bear ; for it is 
self-evident that a "tree is known by its fruits," a cause by its 
consequences. 

As a child loveth its parents with a trusting spirit, and from 
them, through this love, receiveth constant care, so do His 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 149 

children from God receive, through the same love, eternal care, 
eternal happiness. 

Man receiveth daily draughts from an eternal fountain. He 
liveth with a life he produceth not, yet reapeth all its fruits. 
He loveth with a love not his own, yet whose fruits he gather- 
eth with abundant happiness. 

Even as a child he walketh on beside his parent, learning, 
trusting, and loving at every step. Oh, how good is God ! 
All things proclaim his goodness with unerring tongue. His 
lessons how easy ! and his wisdom how pure ! 

Oh man ! trust him even as thy child trusteth thee. As 
thou wouldst not lead thy own children astray, but would 
rather teach them all that could lead unto their happiness, so 
believe that in thus doing thou art only transmitting God's 
goodness unto thee. 

Thou cannot lead thy trusting little one into error ? Then 
how can He, who hath perfect wisdom, deceive thy trusting 
spirit ? 

In perfect truth there can be no deceit ; in perfect love 
there can be no hypocrisy. Become as the little child in truth, 
trusting and willing to learn. 

Thy imperfect nature requireth a staff to lean upon. Thy 
firmest step is but tottering. Lean not upon broken reeds. 
Better secure one truth than myriad errors. Every truth is a 
key fitting every door in the universe. Every error is a bolt 
holding fast truth's doors ; the more thou hast, the more tight 
are truth's doors closed against thee. 

Wisdom is knowledge of truth. 

It is better to write one truth than volumes in which truth 
is not. 

It is better to be humbly wise than proudly foolish. 

There is great strength in humility. The humble man re- 
lieth more truly upon his own powers, and more truly under- 
stands God's power, than any one who permits his own false 
pride to hide his weakness from view. 

The true man, in knowing himself, that he is but an em- 
bodiment of weakness, compared with the one who caused him 
to exist, knoweth how very becoming is humility. 



150 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Humility should never be mingled in meaning with self-de- 
basement. 

The debased are conscious of their debasement, and cannot 
in the eye of God and man assume the garb of humility. 

Knowledge causeth humility. It ariseth from a knowledge 
of our own weakness and imperfection, and leadeth unto a 
trusting dependence upon the power felt to be superior 
unto all. 

Mankind worship their own ideas of perfection. In propor- 
tion as man's knowledge expands, his ideas of infinite perfec- 
tion enlarge, and consequently his ideas of his own imperfec- 
tion enlarge, and hence he becomes truly humble. 

Humility is caused by a knowledge of something of infinite 
superiority. As the spiritual perceptions enlarge, the animal 
propensities dwindle in strength. 

Man is continually in a refining furnace. In his daily revo- 
lutions around his central idea, he is continually learning more 
and more of .what he really is. The bright light emitted by 
this high central sun of his existence, showeth him the light 
and shade of every action. He obtains correct views, correct 
knowledge, and becometh truly humble in speech and action. 

To know God's holy will, and in humility to do it, so far as 
in us the power lies, is enough knowledge and action for man. 

There is water for him who thirsteth. There is food for the 
hungry. There is clothing for the naked. Within man is a 
spring of running water, a garner never empty, and raiment 
through which no cold can pierce. He who turneth within 
himself for food and raiment will never hunger or thirst, or be 
void of warmth. 

He will have too much for his own wants, and will be con- 
tinually striving to bestow upon others of his abundance. 

Did man fully comprehend his own great oneness, did he 
fully realize all that exists within him, his spirit would rejoice 
in the fullness of its great joy. 

The power of God hath its greatest outlet in and through 
man. 

He is created as a channel of the divine will. In every 
action God acteth as the creator. Man's power is encompassed 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 151 

and quickened by the power of his Father. And man's weak- 
ness is but a want of confidence in his Father. 

No man is weak who knoweth himself to be supported by 
God. No man feareth who knoweth God's love. 

This is a beautiful truth, and one which should be well remem- 
bered : God's love casteth out fear in him who feeleth its power. 

The supremity of God's overruling love, so far as compre- 
hended, is really and truly the base of all his children's love, 
and where love dwelleth there is no food for fear. 

A love of truth may be called, when reversed, a fear of error. 
A love of God may be called a fear of all opposed to his truth, 
yet love removeth all fear, for he who truly loveth the truth 
loveth it for its own sake, without fear of anything. 

Could man appreciate perfect love, perfect light, and perfect 
truth, he would have nothing left to understand, save the Crea- 
tor of them. 

To God there can be no high or low. All of his works are 
necessarily in perfect harmony. Neither is it in the power of 
man to pervert, or in any manner change the perfect working 
of his laws. 

The immensity of space, or of what man, being unable to see 
or comprehend, hath termed space, the minuteness of the atom, 
the enjoyment of the insect, the pleasure of man, and the hap- 
piness of God, have all cause in thee, oh Father, thou cause 
of all. 

The mind of man becometh bewildered in the contemplation 
of what he termeth God's immensity. And yet the immensity 
of God is his own understanding of it. 

God is that which man doth not know. Supposed to be 
limited only by his own perfection, even as man by his own 
imperfection. 

What man can say what himself will be in the distant eter- 
nity ? When wisdom seeds, now being planted, shall become 
fully perfected ? When he shall see and fully know all of, 
and in himself? Oh man ! Thy destiny is grand ; thy being 
noble beyond all thou hast now powers capable of imagining. 

Plant a seed in the earth. Plant the issue thereof. Count 
the produce, and extend thy progressive series for millions of 



152 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

millions of years in the same ratio ! Then turn within thyself 
and illustrate thy own spiritual progression toward the under- 
standing of all things ! 

The outer seed dies ! The inner principle quickeneth new 
seed, which the dying seed sustaineth. Even so is it in thee, 
oh son of God ! Thy heavenly birth receiveth strength from 
the understanding of thy earthly life. Thou growest in wisdom 
yielding abundant fold. 

Oh, plant the truth, and thou shalt reap enlarged wisdom. 

Thus shall thy harvest glorify God, and give thee greater 
happiness in purer knowledge. 

Oh, man ! If the poor earth return thee such abundant 
fruits for so little labor, how much more must that great spir- 
itual fountain return unto thee abundantly for all thou dost 
plant in its affinity ! 

Thou art the son of God. All things must bow unto thee. 
Within thy hand is the ruling scepter placed. But to govern 
thou must do it in wisdom. God is no respecter of persons or 
powers. The unlimited measure cannot be filled by the limited. 
All thou can do will but increase thy knowledge of truth. 

While conscious that thou art working or suffering for any 
one of God's attributes, remember that it is better far to suffer 
for God's glory than thine own. If thy earthly life be smooth, 
thy wisdom will be little worth. Constant daily care is neces- 
sary unto thy spiritual health no less than unto thy bodily 
health. 

He who lives on earth without care must expect to live in 
heaven without enjoyment. It is not in floating with the tide 
that knowledge is gained, but by stemming the current. Life 
is most practical. God did set thee a glorious example when 
he created. Had rest been the perfection of happiness, why is 
there motion ? Had God been content before creating, where 
had been man ? 

What folly then for man to long for a state of rest. Life on 
earth is one continual battle between life and death in the 
body. Perfect rest is perfect death. Perfect motion is perfect 
life or the illustration of perfect wisdom. 

Resting becometh tiresome before it is finished. Onward 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 153 

and ever onward is the motion for man. Gathering truths 
until tired, he resteth, and the gathered truths sink deep within 
his individuality — refreshing his spirit as cessation from labor 
refreshes the outer body ; then up and . onward, but never, 
never backward. 

God's laws are unchangeable. All motion in the outward is 
regulated by outward affinities, as all inward motion is by in- 
ward affinity for God. 

We cannot conceive of motion independent from God, any 
more than we can conceive of God being entirely exempt from 
motion. 

How very small is the God our most enlarged earthly un- 
derstanding can comprehend. Even when quickened by inspi- 
ration, man is but an atomic part of that great, undefinable, 
everlasting one he termeth God. To illustrate his simplest 
truths, unquickened man cannot pretend. 

Oh how weak, yet how aspiring, is man ! He would grasp 
the one primeval cause within his little comprehension, and 
explain all the powers of divinity, which, when finished, would 
but exhibit his own little mind, and the presumptive powers 
thereof ! 

Yet man being imperfect, must not expect, nor be expected 
to understand or explain anything above himself. God is God. 
This man can know, and but this. The unerring truths which 
he can comprehend, prove, by their very precision, that man 
could not have ever been instrumental in their formation or 
regulation. 

He can see laws working out changes in the phases of crea- 
tion, producing similar results, season after season, and age 
after age, yet not one single law can he vary, or turn from its 
destined course. That which perfection considered very good, 
can never change. 

Man is part and parcel of perfection. God is all, and in all 
perfect. 

It is encouraging to man to call him the son of God. It is 

elevating, and yet humiliating, to be considered the child and 

eternal companion of God. To feel that unto all eternity we 

are to be objects of his fatherly love. To receive instruction 

11 



154 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

from his own voice ; to feel our spirits clothed in raiment such 
as himself doth wear ; to commune with him, drink deep of 
wisdom's choicest waters ; what higher happiness can we receive 
or comprehend were.it given ? 

To thank God we are, and are to be thus blessed, requireth 
the study of all our powers. Our highest praise is our hum- 
blest action. 

The varying voice is but the channel of feeling. He who 
doth not feel God's praise, cannot speak or sing it. All words 
are but mockery, which do not carry from man to man, or from 
man to God, some small part or expression of happiness. There 
is but one way to praise God : DO thy duty. 

All of his truths are useful unto thee. While singing his 
praise, the air inflating thy lungs, and giving sound unto thy 
voice, beareth witness of thy truth or hypocrisy. All the ele- 
ments surrounding thee are attuned in divine unison. Thy 
actions and passions, and even thy very thoughts, bear witness 
through some of God's good channels either for or against thee. 

That which elevates thee is for thee ; that which doth not, 
is against thee. Thou art thine own. God created thee, and 
he giveth thee means unto happiness, but thou art creator or 
destroyer of thy own advancement. 

They who depend upon God for happiness, will find in the 
end that their happiness depends entirely upon their own exer- 
tions in goodness. God is very good, and of necessity per- 
fectly happy ; then let man become very good, and his happi- 
ness must be complete. 

God's goodness is experimental. Goodness is never at rest. 
It implies action, whose end and aim is happiness. To wait 
for God to help thee is simply to tell him that his help would 
not be appreciated were it given. 

There is danger of man, through habits formed, becoming 
too thoughtless in addressing the Deity. Better never men- 
tion his holy name at all than to do it in mockery of all his 
attributes. Let us never forget how very small we are, and 
how very great and good He must be. 

Any of his truths require of us ages of study before we can 
comprehend them, because of their perfection, and our imper- 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 155 

fection. Yet we can and do daily learn some little truth, or see 
some little effect, which may at some future time reveal its cause. 

The sublimest attainment of imperfection must be far, very 
far below perfection. 

Every little part of truth thou dost imbed within thy own 
individuality adds just so much unto thy stature in wisdom, or 
in knowledge, through which cometh happiness. 

If thou do not receive knowledge very fast, implant it the 
firmer within thee. If thou cannot obtain much, hold fast 
unto that which is obtained. There is no choice in God's 
truths : all bear witness of him. 

Reveal what thou knowest to be truth. When there is no 
more truth to reveal, then there is naught left worth revealing. 
It is folly to write that which will do no good. 

Fame, to be lasting, must have a firm foundation. 

If thou would live in the memory of man do him good. No 
man can forget wherein he was most blessed, or who was most 
instrumental in blessing him. 

Behold the harmony of God's truth and love. No man can 
labor without his reward. No matter what thy sufferings in 
time, there is a plane above whereon they cannot enter. Faith 
can raise thee from the deepest earthly mire into the highest 
heaven. He who hath firm confidence in the impartial good- 
ness of God cannot know the greatest suffering. 

To live in constant dread of the future, because of its great 
uncertainty, is to experience more suffering than the keenest 
torture can give unto the firm believer that God is good, and 
all is well. 

Oh, could we but demonstrate unto the comprehension of all 
men, that a glorious future awaits them, a glorious present 
would always be with them. This is all man's earthly exist- 
ence requires to make him see and know himself to be in heaven 
while yet upon the earth. 

There must be some way to demonstrate this truth. God 
does not plant barren seed. The deep yearning of our nature 
is one continual prayer for more light, more truth, and more 
happiness ; and behold through light and truth shall come 
happiness. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

IMMOKTALITY OF THE SOUL— REJOICING. 

God's truths flow harmoniously. Beautiful or useful truths 
must have harmonious sentences and plain conclusions to fully 
express them. Every man vieweth truth through his own un- 
derstanding. That which will convince one man, cannot, there- 
fore, convince another. 

All can find within their own affinity for God that which 
shall render them like unto him. 

Let each and every man be eager to gather truth. Let all 
seek at the fountain of universal wisdom for draughts of 
knowledge, and they cannot go thirsty away. The capacity 
for desiring immortality is one of God's fruits, which every 
man must nourish unto the harvest of convincement. 

God hath left within every man a desire which cannot be 
filled on earth. There is no substance so high as the spirit of 
man upon the earth, and, in desiring immortality, the spirit 
cannot be prompted by anything below its nature. 

All the outward truths surrounding the spirit change and re- 
change, in obedience unto laws in themselves good and perfect, 
but which had not, nor ever can have, any share in its formation. 

Were the soul simply material, then it could be proven im- 
mortal from the eternal and unchangeable laws governing all 
objects in outward nature. 

Intelligence is a divine law. It permeates all natural ob- 
jects, from the highest sensations of man unto the lowest thing 
created. The fact that man or matter know not why they are 
governed, will not make God's intelligence less. 

The spirit of man hath affinity for its Creator. The yearn- 
ing after immortal happiness hath no connection with any- 
thing changeable. It is one of the instincts of the soul, and is 
illustrated in the outward by the law of self-preservation. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 157 

All living things prove by their tenacity of life that to live 
is their greatest desire. 

The human soul seeks not that which is of the earth, yet in 
accordance with the law of its nature, it is constantly desiring 
to live. To continue in existing consciousness of its own iden- 
tity, is the grand desire of the spirit of man. It is a desire 
too high to be gratified with any outward proof. 

Each and every man must receive within himself proof, 
which, when given, will open unto his delighted gaze an eter- 
nal heaven. 

Through the affinity of the human soul for its Maker must 
come the proof. 

God being perfect good, cannot by any possibility create un- 
happiness, or that which can in any manner effect unhappiness. 

Then let each man see through his own high affinities that 
God in his goodness has implanted in the spirit of all his chil- 
dren this desire, which none, save his own divine goodness, 
could gratify. 

In creating man's identity, God did but render him conscious 
of this eternal dependence upon something above and beyond 
himself. This consciousness it was man's province to culti- 
vate. The more he cultivates this consciousness, the more will 
grow his desire to obtain higher and yet higher proof that he 
shall exist forever in happiness. 

It pleased God to place man upon earth. It pleased Him 
also to make him incapable of being satisfied. 

Could man know happiness in perfection here, he would be 
ignorant of imperfection, for we cannot conceive that God can 
create, independent of himself, a god equal unto himself. 
Therefore, it pleased God to render man imperfect, yet im- 
plant within his nature the eternal desire to be perfect. 

Perfect goodness requireth of itself a redemption of its 
promises. 

God, in man's yearning for immortality, hath given guaran- 
tee that he shall have it. 

Live an upright and righteous life while upon earth, and 
thou art safe. Be strictly honest and strictly virtuous in all 
thy actions, and all thy conversation. 



158 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Even if there should be no existence for man after leaving 
the body, the truth that happiness is a result of goodness 
should lead man constantly unto higher joys, even while yet 
upon earth. 

The human soul is indeed a great and grand problem ! To 
mark out its course in an endless and boundless eternity, is a 
task great unto all save thee, oh Father of all ! 

To shape and guide our bark constantly toward the haven 
of our greatest good, is more than we can, unaided, do. 

To select, retain, and increase our wisdom day by day, 
journeying through faith up toward perfection, is our God- 
given task. 

Oh how very insignificant seem our greatest exertions, and 
our greatest success ! Yet we must not overrate our import- 
ance, and let us believe that while striving to do our greatest 
good, we are in reality doing all required of us. 

We are small, very small indeed, compared with our Creator, 
but large, very large, compared with our point of starting. 

Compared with what we can produce, we are gods, but com- 
pared with Him who did produce us, we are as naught. 

Oh ! if an endless existence be ours, surely we cannot therein 
too much glorify that good cause of our being. 

We are but so many drops of blessedness, so much individual 
happiness sprinkled in endless showers from his hand. 

Oh man, rejoice, rejoice ! God is good ! Be thou His true 
and trusting child. 

Seek not to know what God hath placed beyond thy disso- 
lution. When thy spirit is free from earth, its perceptions will 
be clearer. 

Thy desire for immortality in its beginning must have been 
permitted by thy Creator. Every rational man knows that his 
own intelligence cannot be produced by all the earth com- 
bined, for it is above all. There is no power connected with 
the earth which could produce man's longing for the immor- 
tality of the soul, for the soul is above all earthly powers, as 
proven by its intelligence. 

Even if there were no God, the soul must exist eternally 
per force of its own will. If God did not exist, the soul does 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 159 

exist, and being above the earth in its powers, can exist despite 
of all connected with the earth. 

Thus, oh soul, thou art free ! The earth is thy footstool ; 
upon it bow unto Him who broke thy chains with the light of 
his own wisdom. 

The earth cannot produce the human soul, neither can it 
destroy its immortality. 

God created man. Man is imperfect. No being can pro- 
duce another being equal unto itself. God is perfect. Man's 
imperfection is part of God's perfection and necessary there- 
unto, or it could not be. A perfect being cannot become im- 
perfect, therefore cannot God destroy the human soul ; for it 
is part of His own perfection. 

Thus, oh soul, thou art free ! Even God, thy own Creator, 
thy eternal, good, and loving Father cannot destroy thy exist- 
ence ! Thus art thou immortal ! 

Thou cannot destroy thy own existence, for thou cannot 
exercise the powers which produced thee. Thou art beyond 
thy own will in existence. The will is part of thee, and there- 
fore necessary unto thy existence, and also unto God's perfec- 
tion. Thus art thou free from thyself. There is naught else 
can assail thee. 

The earth cannot, and God will not destroy thee. Thou 

ART IMMORTAL. 

Thus can thou solve, through an harmonious train of rea- 
soning, the first problem in the existence of the human soul. 
Thus can thou through faith give hope unto all who can see 
and understand thy demonstration. 

Every man is accountable unto God for every power or 
talent he has received, or inherited, direct from his Father's 
goodness. Thou knowest the capabilities of thy own soul, 
and very imperfectly. Its development is thy own especial 
task. 

God did not make thee perfect. But the full extent of what 
he did make thee thou cannot imagine. 

The truth that thou can desire immortality, and can com- 
prehend proofs thereof, is surely evidence of thy intelligence. 

Thou art as the new-born infant of earth. Immortality 



160 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

dawns upon thy understanding, and is no more understood 
than was mortality, when thou did first enter existence. 

How beautiful is thy existence ! One continual round of 
enjoyment. To live forever, oh joyous thought ! What more 
can we desire ? To know thou art thy own ; to feel that God 
is indeed thy eternal Father, and thou his eternal son ! To 
feel within that long-sought proof that thou cannot be annihi- 
lated ! Oh, this is indeed glad tidings of great joy unto the 
spirit ! 

How mysterious are thy ways, oh God ! Thy dealings how 
perfect, and thy joys how pure ! Oh, if within the soul of man 
thou hast thy shrine, let me pour upon it the purest incense of 
a thankful spirit. I searched and have found ; I asked and 
have received ; I knocked at the door of truth, and behold it 
was opened unto me. The proof of my own immortality was 
handed unto me, and I saw and believed. 

The rational spirit of man can only be satisfied with rational 
food. It would be folly to offer unto a hungry man that which 
had no nourishment in it. And he who desires proof of his 
own immortality, should seek for it only at the feet of God. 

No power below, or equal only unto man, can furnish proof 
of his eternal existence. It must come from some power greater 
than himself. 

No man can, unaided, deduct any train of reasoning, which 
shall amount unto positive proof from his own brain concern- 
ing futurity, because the brain is material in its construction, 
and every truth it is unaided cognizant of, must be of a mate- 
rial or mortal nature. 

To speak still plainer, nothing can, unaided, get above 
itself. 

If mankind will not acknowledge the power of God, they 
must not suppose his power the less therefore. It is themselves 
who lose the opportunities to gain wisdom, but this will surely 
not make the wisdom of God the less. 

God does not, he surely cannot, feel elated with blind and 
foolish praise. He surely cannot feel exalted with that which 
degrades his child. Yet the earnest seeker after truth must 
be a welcome guest at the door of perfect wisdom. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 161 

Man is jealous of his knowledge, thereby proving his imper- 
fection. God giveth all things, thereby proving his perfec- 
tion. Set forth thy truths as thou dost discover them. They 
are not thine, and are but loaned for thy advancement. 

In view of an eternal existence, it becometh man to look 
well about him, and begin to collect and retain knowledge con- 
cerning all things on earth and above the earth. 

Form habits that shall be an eternal advantage unto thee. 
Do not labor in vain, but always labor in the present, so as to 
enjoy the future. 

To-day is thine, to-morrow God's. 

As the child of mortality progresses but slowly at its com- 
mencement toward the understanding of outward truths, so the 
child of immortality totters from one truth to another, onward 
and upward. 

And each little truth, or each little part of the one great 
truth, which we can comprehend, adds unto our knowledge and 
feeling of happiness. 

Thus little by little does heaven or happiness open unto the 
purified vision of immortal infants in knowledge. 

There can be no happiness which is unenjoyed. God's 
economy is perfect. As there is nothing connected with man's 
outward nature that is useless, so, in the inner nature, there 
can be nothing not necessary unto God's perfection, no hap- 
piness which is not within and part of His happiness. 

Man cannot exist isolated from God, for he is not self-pro- 
ductive. 

A happy man carries within him an hallowed sun, which 
doth continually emit rays of happiness. These rays pass out 
through his face in smiles, through his hand in the warm well- 
wishing pressure, and his lips utter words which convey happi- 
ness unto all who listen. 

Thus, behold the economy of God's work. All happiness, 
which the full spirit cannot hold, is transmitted unto his 
brother. There is none wasted. Could there be one truth 
destroyed, all truth would be rendered imperfect. 

The happiness of one spirit is necessary unto every other 
spirit, and unto God. 



162 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Within Him is all enjoyment made perfect. Enjoyment 
flowing from the gratification of our earthly nature is too dense 
in its nature to ever ascend beyond the earth. The soul that 
hath kept close unto earth, and reaped therefrom the fruits of 
its own worship, must expect nothing higher hereafter. 

God is perfect; we must not expect cause and effect to 
change to suit our whims. The sooner we make up our minds 
to seek our highest good only, the sooner will we start rightly. 

Oh that mankind would think more upon their future, and 
less upon their past. Would that they would try more con- 
stantly to find out the true end, and what should be the true 
aim of man. 

Surely our existence is worth knowing more about than the 
simple fact that we do exist. Study why, how, and wherefore 
we have our being. 

All fields are open unto thy vision ; look thou in, search in 
all for wisdom. Fear not offending God by studying. Thou 
cannot know too much, and what thou can know must glorify 
the cause of knowledge. 

Study plain truths. Metaphysical mysteries have no affinity 
for truth's simplicity. Truths may be added and combined in 
such manner as to appear mysterious, but there must be a plain 
beginning and a safe ending unto all truth. 

Be fearless and free in thy researches. How silly must 
seem the fears of some seekers ; afraid lest they should find 
something God would rather they did not know ! 

Thy knowledge cannot eclipse or surpass thy Creator's. 

Therefore learn all thou hast power to know, never fearing 
thou wilt offend God. His wisdom can only give thee happi- 
ness. The more happiness and the more knowledge thou hast, 
the more expanded will become thy power of serving him, and 
thus to become a really valuable servant, thou cannot be too 
wise. 

All truths are avenues leading unto one great truth, God. 

As the outer sun dispenses its rays in all directions, so does 
God as an inward center dispense unto all mankind his rays 
of intelligence. Thus truth is made manifest. No man can 
know too much. All errors in those thought wise on earth 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 163 

result from want of knowledge, and not from an overabundance 
of it. 

It is not within the reach of man to surpass that which God 
in his creation giveth him power to do. Man is free, but his 
freedom is of necessity limited, for he is not perfect. 

Thus then the spirit, or the living concentration of wisdom, 
truth, and love, the soul, to reap an enlarged happiness here 
or hereafter, hath only to expand itself. 

Surely God is our parent. He is all, and being all, is always 
beyond and greater than our power of knowing. 

His law T s are good, yet they are not intelligent. They regu- 
late animated nature, yet cannot create an atom. Let us learn 
to look upon all desires, not tending to elevate man, as below 
our true standing in the universe. 

We cannot conceive that our Father is satisfied with con- 
stantly watching the machinery of his creation, even if it 
should require watching. The machinery must be perfect, for 
it is not free-willed, and being produced by God, cannot be 
imperfect. 

Man is the only being requiring God's care, because he is 
the only being we are cognizant of, that has a consciousness of 
good and evil, the only being created above the law. 

We all receive our portion of His love. He giveth all our 
true happiness, and is most worthy of all our highest and 
purest devotion. 

Always strive to retain a consciousness of His care. It is 
ennobling to constantly remember we are the loved children 
of the Most High. To remember we are encircled within his 
arms, our heads resting upon his breast, and our spirits drink- 
ing deep of joys of his own creating. Oh ! he who knoweth 
and feeleth this hath no need to leave the body. The earth is 
good unto the pure in spirit. Do not think that God's im- 
mense power can overcome the immensity of his love. His 
creation, from the atom unto the wildest comet, are each and 
every one turning out order, harmony, and happiness before 
thee, all for thee, and thee only, oh man, for God cannot be 
rendered happy therewith. 

It is thy duty to meet and return this love. It is alone thy 



164 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

high privilege to say, " Father, I thank thee." It is alone 
thy privilege to comprehend more and more of Him and his 
ways, to imitate, and to be happy in thy knowledge. 

No man knoweth the love of his Father for him. It is pure 
and perfect happiness to know it. 

No man knoweth his own power of ministering unto the 
pleasure of his Creator. We must all be necessary unto him, 
even in precise proportion as he is unto us. We cannot alter 
his perfection, but we can change continually our position in 
regard to it. 

If God had been satisfied, man would have had no occasion 
to exist. We must have been created to supply want in the 
great happiness of our Father. It is most blessed to give. 

God is in us, and we in him. Therefore, let us study con- 
tinually to give unto him within us the purest happiness, the 
greatest joy. Thus in striving to give our Creator happiness, 
we are indeed only truly giving or gaining unto ourselves a 
more enlarged appreciation of it. This is the blessedness of 
giving, it amply returneth. 

And must it not unto our Father return most welcome praise, 
to behold each and every one doing, or striving earnestly to 
do, the highest good within our power ? Surely a parent, 
however wise and just, cannot be insensible unto the loving 
tenderness of his trusting child. 

Thus, then, let us expand ourselves in wisdom, that our freed 
spirits may the better know how to give happiness. 

Love without intelligence is insipid. Truth without intelli- 
gence did not, and cannot exist. Wisdom only stands between 
man and God. 

There is no evidence of love, except through intelligence. 
Truth, if not comprehended, could do no good. It is knowledge 
of what is, and is to be, that maketh God to be God, and keep- 
eth man, through ignorance, but man. 

Could man span this chasm, and grasp at once this great 
knowledge, his mission would be ended, his progression stop, 
his existence cease as man, and begin as a god. 

If all our earthly powers are but germs, seeds whose growth 
is eternal ; and whose end, whose ripening, whose harvesting, 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 165 

must, in the nature of all things proven, be ; then how great 
is man ! 

Oh God, be thou with us to the end. 

Oh, let knowledge dawn upon us in such a manner as that 
we shall never forget all is of and in thee, very good. 

Did we know the truth that is, could we fully comprehend 
what we daily see the forms of, could we grasp a knowledge of 
all things present, our feet would never again falter, our eye 
never again lose sight of that pure enjoyment yet to be. 

We cannot Jive without a future hope. We look forward 
through the troublesome present, hoping and believing that 
what is to be is calm, tranquil happiness. 

Such is our being's law. The free soul of man can look for- 
ward in perfect faith that the future is the refined present. 

Truth is bright and glorious. It is never old, for no truth 
can be seen at two times precisely the same. Oh, how good is 
God ! as we expand, so do appear the rays of truth to brighten. 
We cannot learn too much ; and oh ! the soul, which knoweth 
its eternal destiny, knoweth full well that eternity is required 
to render unto our Father his just return for our creation. 

To feel flowing within our spirit a sweet consciousness that 
He is near ! And, oh, to feel that we are dear unto him ! 
Such feelings are not connected with the earth. God is not 
revealed unto flesh and blood, nor unto animal life, but God is 
revealed unto the highest conceptions of the spirit of man. 

And he revealeth himself plainly ; not in form, nor feature, 
but in the feeling of holy joy ; of humble, trusting communion ; 
of deep-flowing thoughts ; and of clearness of vision, rendering 
all truth gazed upon lovely and harmonious. 

When the light of God's wisdom falleth upon man's vision, 
then he knoweth truth, for he sees it clearly. He cannot be 
taught error, for he knoweth it by contrasting with truth. 
Wisdom cannot be deceived, for it is the true knowledge of all 
things. 

Then how weak is man. He cannot generate wisdom within 
himself that can stand beyond the shores of time. It is by and 
through a spiritual conception and comprehension of God's 
truth that he becometh truly man, God's earthly image. 



166 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

What folly to love our own weakness better than the strength 
and clearness of truth. There is nothing in connection with 
us really worth loving save our spiritual being, which is but an 
emanation from our Father. 

How weak is man, yet oh, how blessed ! God is within and 
around him. God's strength supports him, God's love blesses 
him, and the light of divine wisdom illumines his pathway. 

Man is journeying through his Father's perfection. Every 
little truth he gathers sweetens his being, and maketh him one 
atom nearer the all of perfection. 

The Creator hath left the impress of divine wisdom upon all 
his handiwork. Yet man, so far as he can know, is the great- 
est receiver of the wisdom, or capability of receiving knowl- 
edge. 

Each man knoweth God according as the divine image is 
seen in his own spirit. Each man vieweth daily, if he so de- 
sire, the form of the being he believeth to be God. 

And daily, as man increaseth in comprehension, so does in- 
crease his idea of Divinity. Thus is God daily created within 
the spirit of his child. 

Look thou within thee. If thy Father is not there, it were 
in vain to search elsewhere. If within thy purest depths he 
is nowhere found, purify thy vision. If thou art blind, it is 
thy want of affinity for light. 

When God first saw the earth it was very good. And when 
thou dost first behold it, unto thy vision it is pure. Thou must 
see imperfection in all things in proportion as thy own perfec- 
tion increases. 

It is God's light within thee removing the void or darkness 
without. It is thy overcoming. 

With thy growth in wisdom cometh enlarged vision, which 
giveth thee more confidence in God's truth, and more insight 
into man's erring nature. 

Thus thou cannot know too much. To know is to under- 
stand. True wisdom is perfect knowledge. 

All wisdom, or true knowledge, revealeth harmony every- 
where, and the highest wisdom revealeth its creator, whose 
every action is harmony revealed. 



\ 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 167 

He who knoweth his own existence, knoweth next that God 
is good. He who fully comprehends his own eternal life, must 
also comprehend that the giver of that life is good. 

From that deep sense of gratitude within thee, that deep 
and abiding joy, when thou knowest eternal life is thine, must 
have an outlet. The waters of thankfulness cannot be re- 
strained, and they flow backward, laden with sweet fragrance, 
even unto their cause ; and, oh God, it seemeth unto me, as if 
thou must be pleased with the sincere happiness thou hast created. 

No man can fully know God's goodness. To comprehend 
his first great gift is the first small step toward him. To know 
that through, by, and in him, thou dost exist, is to know of a 
certainty he doth exist ; and to know that through, by, and in 
him, thou shalt forever exist, is to know from heavenly happi- 
ness within thee that He is good. 

It is easy for man to repeat words of wisdom, but in the 
comprehension thereof is wisdom. It is easy to say God is 
good, but how must words sound unto Him, when uttered in 
thoughtless mood ? Surely the sounds of machinery do not 
give forth intelligence unto Deity. 

In the presence of Deity always appear naked ; better to 
have the credit of honesty, than the fine clothing of a hypocrite. 

God knows exactly what thou art. 

Through thy eternal life thou dost breathe the breath of 
God. He is never far from thee. Keep thou within the 
channel of his affinity, and all knowledge will flow in and 
around thee, illumining thy pathway. 

Keep thou near him, and love's sweet atmosphere shall 
eternally fill and surround thee with images, and reflections of 
his own divine spirit. 

Communion with him shall exalt and enchant thee. Thou 
shall know what it is to dwell in him, and have him in thee. 
Yes, know it. Oh, how divine is that pure knowledge which 
can give such happiness ! 

To have all, and more than thou can comprehend of his 
divine presence and love within thee ; to daily commune with 
the Highest, doth raise the spirit even in anticipation far above 
the earth. 



168 THE HEALING OP THE NATIONS. 

No man knoweth his own destiny. And it is well that wis- 
dom only groweth with his growth, and strengthens with his 
strength, for without his fear of the future, his present might 
become careless. He cannot know too much ; it is against the 
law of his being. 

The presence of Deity no man can fully comprehend. It is 
necessarily uncertain and vague at times, for man is not always 
the same, and with every atom of his progression must come 
some alteration, or some new development of his nature, and 
even as he alters, so must Deity appear to change, for he is 
seen in a different light, and from a different point of view. 

Thus man's nature is continually changing toward the Divine 
nature. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

SHELLS OF WISDOM COMPARED WITH THE LIFE OF WIS- 
DOM—SEEK DIVINE WISDOM FIRST— THE SOUL, WIS- 
DOM'S STOREHOUSE. 

Those who seek the Father in truth find him therein. Those 
who seek him in love find him or his influence in their own 
happiness. He is good. Everywhere, and at all times, man's 
highest good. Oh, then, if this be true, in this truth should 
man seek. 

It is thy privilege to doubt all things. Thou need not take 
anything as truth which an exalted reason cannot substantiate. 
God will not grow less through thy unbelief in his goodness, 
but thou wilt surely grow no larger in wisdom, so long as thou 
dost not receive food above thyself. 

God breathed into thee the breath of life eternal. What 
can remove that breath ? This does not mean thy earthly life, 
but it does mean that life-giving breath within thee which con- 
stantly pointeth and aspireth upward. It should purify thy 
spiritual blood, and render thy inward body, or being, pure 
and spotless. 

The gift of eternal life, fully comprehended, must elevate 
man, and give him enlarged understanding of all things within 
the divine harmony. 

To be possessed of the knowledge of this gift, renders man 
more independent than all knowledge without it combined. 

He may weigh and measure all the bodies in space ; he may 
learn the natures and variations of all things on earth ; he may 
know all of the outside universe, and yet if he knoweth not 
eternal life, he hath not taken the first step in the understand- 
ing of God's goodness. 

He hath not wisdom. He knoweth less than the humblest 
servant of God, who daily vieweth the workings of his holy 
hand. 

12 



170 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

No man can understand God's works, save through wisdom 
by God inspired. He who opens within himself the channel 
of divine love, has the feeling which is the essence of all 
wisdom. 

And herein lies the difference between outside knowledge 
and inside wisdom: the one dies with the outward, and the 
other lives with the inward. 

The one lives from the breath of animal life, the other from 
the breath of eternal life. 

Then what folly to gather daily for a long life that which 
shall at thy last earthly breath cease to be. Better far secure 
one little truth and know it, firmly holding thee unto Deity. 
Better know he loveth thee, than all else without it. 

The learned have seldom wisdom. The care to get, and 
ambition to keep earthly knowledge, destroys affinity for the 
plain and simple lessons of wisdom. 

He who trusteth in the goodness of his Father in heaven, is 
upon a firmer and far more exalted position than the most 
learned man on earth without this trust. 

If God cannot reveal eternal wisdom, how can man compre- 
hend it ? Therefore, trust in his goodness, and if thou do not 
know so many outward truths, thy inward store will be far 
more valuable. 

God's wisdom is first and greatest. His wisdom is separate 
and distinct from man's. Man's wisdom or knowledge is 
limited by his own individuality, whereas God is unlimited. 

In learning what man teaches, thou seest the end, and all 
things take his own peculiar shape. In learning what God 
teaches, there is no end, and the form thereof is that which 
God alone knoweth, thou only feelest it is good. 

Man's wisdom, unquickened by God's inspiring light, is most 
dead, most dull and lifeless. There is no food in it for an im- 
mortal spirit. 

And yet thousands aspire after these shells of wisdom, be- 
cause the world loveth its own, and ambition rules them like a 
tyrant. 

The truth exalteth, and a knowledge of truth enlarges com- 
prehension of God's goodness. That is not truth which points 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 171 

man toward anything save God. It is God made manifest, 
and they who use it, save for good, merely acknowledge that 
they are ignorant of its true nature. 

Within every truth man can collect, there dwells an evidence 
or witness of the goodness of God. As within his own body, 
which is a collection of myriad little or great simple truths, 
the higher and holier essence of truth, spirit, dwelleth. 

Surely no man is wise who does not know that the spirit is 
first and greatest. Neither is any man wise who spends his 
time collecting shells, in which he puts no life. It is not wise 
to have eyes and not use them. It is not wise to view God's 
works continually, yet never see anything in them which wit- 
nesseth his goodness. 

Such learning cannot live. Such truths give no life. 

All truths are necessarily connected with the goodness of 
their creator, for they are, in part, that goodness ; but when 
man looks in a mirror of his own creating, it is himself that is 
reflected. 

The selfish atmosphere surrounding an ambitious brain is, 
of itself, to an enlightened understanding, evidence of God's 
goodness, but the understanding of the ambitious brain con- 
tinually resists the purifying light of divinity, and remains in 
its own cloudy happiness. 

Truth being perfect, frequently comes in contact with the 
desires of man. There are truths, so to speak, of all sizes, 
shapes, and colors. The brain of man shapes them, each one 
filling his little measure, and, perhaps, imagining he has all, 
or at least the very part of all, which is the best. 

It is strange that man will collect truths his whole life for 
his own exclusive good, for when the first lesson all of God's 
goodness proclaims everywhere is, it is more blessed to do 
good than to receive goodness. 

Thus it is his own conceited selfishness which maketh him 
to hold fast unto the effects around him, when the cause of 
them, if equally studied, would be far more simple, and con- 
sequently more beneficial, and more easily understood. 

We cannot understand all of any truth, because we have but 
part of an understanding, we are imperfect. Each truth of 



172 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

the universe is part of the great total truth. They all fit to- 
gether into one which is perfect. 

There are myriad emblems of this truth. The air, earth, 
and water swarm with living examples of the adaptation of all 
things. Every part of every being is necessary unto its own 
peculiar individuality ; and even so are all truths branches of 
the great truth. 

The flower groweth from the earth, and in its roots, stems, 
branches, leaves, bud and blossom ; yes, even in its sweet 
fragrance, it beareth witness of its own part in God's 
goodness. 

Trace inward. Never stop on the surface. The landscape 
is beautiful, very beautiful indeed, if thou art; but if there is 
no comprehension of beauty within thy own spirit, it is folly to 
seek outward sights. 

. Oh, how lovely must the earth appear unto a perfect vision ! 
Even unto us it is at times, in our better moments, most lovely 
to gaze upon, and we so imperfect. 

The more we permit goodness to dwell within us, the more 
will grow our comprehension thereof. And the more good we 
do, the greater will be our harvest. 

All things are beautiful. All have been touched by the 
beams of His love. Through His light we view them, and from 
them all cometh evidence of his perfection. 

Oh that our eyes were open ! We grope in darkness of 
spirit, while all around us is perfect day. All is lovely, if 
we do but love, all beautiful as ourselves. Yes, all is beauti- 
ful as God can make it unto us, without unmaking our man- 
hood. 

Then let us press onward and upward in hope, for at the 
top is ever a smiling face turned toward us, beckoning us on 
unto greater trials and greater overcomings. 

Sow, reap, and gather unto all eternity. He gave us to be 
our own, then let us prove ourselves worthy of the gift. Bet- 
ter not to be at all, than to be Unworthy. 

Within God's goodness is room for all. We must all be 
therein, or it is not perfect. 

Let us press steadily onward and upward. God's goodness 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 173 

is all around us, and by reflection, we can see and understand 
our full part thereof. 

Let each man stand firm upon his own base. God must 
certainly have more affinity for man than for simply an animal. 
Therefore, examine all things for thyself, reflect upon all things 
for thyself, collect all things unto thyself, and then imitate 
God by distributing all thou hast among those poorer than thou 
in His wisdom. 

First comprehend thy gifts. And it is well also to under- 
stand unto what manner of man thou givest, for all cannot 
possibly view every gift alike. 

The gift of God's wisdom regulates itself. No man can hold 
more than his own fullness. And even when full, it will, so to 
speak, stagnate, unless a channel is immediately opened for its 
free passage. 

When the waters of wisdom stagnate within the human brain, 
the effect is seen in sluggishness of motion, and a tendency to 
weakness. Healthy action can only come from motion, in every 
sense of the word. He who is filled at the divine fountain, 
and would stay full of the same draught, hath more enlarged 
ideas of his own wisdom than of God's. 

Man's growth in immortal qualities can only come from 
divine attributes. There is an immortality which the worldly 
wise know not of, because it is above all emanating from the 
earth. 

It is as easy to obtain, more lasting than all fame, and more 
gratifying to man's highest nature than earthly fame can pos- 
sibly be to his lower nature. 

Seek and thou wilt find. Godliness dwelleth within man. 
If thou seek that which cometh not from heaven, how can thou 
find it? Seek first divine wisdom, and all thou receivest will 
render thy nature still nearer the divine. 

Seek for thyself. Seek directly from Deity. His strength 
shall clothe thee, and nis power go with thee. 

Oh, that all men could feel that our Father is indeed good ! 
Love would take the place of selfishness, harmony would remove 
discord, and, through the affinities of truth, man could and 
would commune with his Maker. 



174 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Yet so long as man remaineth in the body, these seasons of 
blessed communion must necessarily fall short of what they 
will or can be, when entirely disencumbered with flesh. 

God favoreth no man. He hath no favorites. Neither can 
one more than another of equal goodness and comprehension 
approach his presence, yet the same can better approach with- 
out the flesh than with it, because death is a great purifier. 

After death of the body, the spirit comprehends truths 
which before death were, and could be but partly known. 

The knowledge which man gains after his dissolution amply 
rewards him for all he can suifer. This must be so, because 
God is good, and therefore cannot create a being which shall 
have more capacity for suffering than for happiness. 

The happiness of all the unreasoning creation proveth this 
to be truth. They may suffer at death, but it is very short 
and very trifling, compared with their long life of animal 
pleasure. ' 

If the lower creation do not exist beyond their dissolution, 
their existence pays them. It is not so with man. 

There is within man a knowledge, a feeling, and a yearning, 
which constantly urge him to leave all animal enjoyment unto 
other and lower animals, and seek for himself something above 
and purer. This maketh his animal enjoyment imperfect, and 
hence it is necessary unto his Creator's goodness that the yearn- 
ing and feeling should be gratified. 

The soul at death or dissolution becometh like unto the 
body, and the spirit is still like unto the spirit refined. 

The soul, or that which represents the union of the spirit 
with the highest form of matter, the embodiment of earthly 
and heavenly wisdom in unity, becometh the body, within 
which dwelleth the refined spirit. 

The soul, for the truth must have a name, and the name 
soul fits it, is necessarily partly material in its nature, for its 
comprehension is formed through the agency of material 
powers. 

Conclusions arrived at from pure and exalted reasoning on 
earth, tend to, and do form the soul's identity, and its indi- 
viduality is marked by distinct lines of wisdom. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 175 

The comprehension of the soul, and the inspiration of the 
spirit, are essentially different. And this is the simple differ- 
ence : the soul hath matter in it, and the spirit hath God in it. 

Thus the soul carries into the future its knowledge of the 
past, and the spirit in the future sees clearly in the pure light 
of divinity. 

Herein is seen the goodness of the well-spent earthly life, 
for even in the immediate presence of Deity, the soul, like 
the outward body, furnishes unto the spirit outward wisdom, 
the fruit of God within. 

The spirit who hath greatest wisdom, and loveth God most 
purely, enjoy eth most the future heaven, because it not only 
hath access unto its own wisdom, but also the wisdom of all 
souls below its comprehension. 

The law of harmony makes the order of heaven. There is 
no place which is more heaven than any other place. It is 
within the spirit of man that God is found, and whoever 
knoweth his dwelling-place to be within His presence, need 
never search for a greater or purer heaven. 

And yet it would seem that our Father, which art in 
heaven, must have unto himself a dwelling-place more refined 
than th*e highest light of man can imagine. 

Of this man can know but little, and it is better to believe 
simply that He is good, or the living goodness, whose rays 
penetrate every soul, and whose light quickeneth every spirit. 

The highest wisdom and the purest love are spiritual. 

That man may keep all he has learned while upon the earth, 
he is furnished with a vast storehouse, which retaineth unto 
himself the fruits of his labor. 

The soul might be called the memory, or retaining power of 
man. During the earthly sojourn, we gather and retain truths, 
and these truths, whether we know it or not, for God's wisdom 
is not governed by ours, are firmly fixed within our soul, becom- 
ing in the next stage of our existence our body; for they must 
retain the essence of their earthly nature, and hence cannot 
be purely spiritual. They cannot be aught but very good, but 
blessed be he who hath made the good selection. 

To make a good selection out of that which is very good, we 



176 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

must simply select that which suits our nature best. Although 
goodness must be perfect, no two imperfect beings can be satis- 
fied with the same part of perfection. 

God made us progressive. He could not make us like unto 
himself, without becoming himself most imperfect. To pro- 
gress in happiness, we must necessarily retain all the happi- 
ness we have passed through, and to progress in wisdom, and 
the feeling of happiness, which is love, we must retain within 
us all we have felt and known. 

Therefore, he who selects trifles is trifling, and he who re- 
taineth within him foolishness is most foolish. 

All truths are eternal, but all truths are not each and every 
man's highest good. Blessed is he who selects that which will 
stay with him forever. 

There are changeable truths, and truths that are eternally 
steadfast. 

Experience is a blessed teacher. He who storeth within his 
soul truths gathered from his own experience, will find in eter- 
nity the value of time. 

We pass through almost numberless scenes, actions, thoughts, 
aspirations ; and all are mirrored in the gallery of the soul, 
even as pictures of our life. We grow thus in knowledge and 
capacity for knowledge. 

How beautiful must seem some of our lovely outward views 
of the earth seen when we were good in feeling. 

Surely as the spirit looks at the picture, it must comprehend 
the mysterious connection between good in all things. 

Thus, then, will we grow forever from seeds of time. 'Not 
that the earth and time are all of us, far from it, but the earth 
is very good, and time leadeth unto the door of eternity. 



CHAPTER XV. 

GOD IN MAN— LISTEN FOR HIS VOICE— MAN MUST DO- 
HEAVEN IS HOLY HAPPINESS— HEAVENLY LABOR. 

Heaven has been too long a purely mystical, visionary 
place. It is time the thick fogs enveloping man's spirit should 
be drawn aside, and have proven unto his understanding that 
all inspiration must harmonize with an exalted reason. 

No man should believe in ignorance. Let all seek the high- 
est they can attain, because their highest is surely better than 
their lowest, and when this highest seemeth to lessen in beauty 
and purity, as it surely will if they be true unto their own na- 
ture, then let them again arise and go heavenward. 

How must satisfied imperfection look unto Deity ? Even 
like a stagnant, putrefying pool unto us ! How much more 
healthful the seeking, ever-onward spirit ! Like unto the 
spring, which, by uniting with other waters, becometh in time 
the great and mighty river, so the ever-seeking spirit storeth 
away truth after truth, until it becomes indeed like unto a vast 
river of light rolling on and onward toward the great ocean of 
light, Divinity. 

All can learn, all can gather truth. There is no spirit in 
existence, but can carry back unto its Father a well-stored 
and well-cultivated individuality. 

Thus must He see us : — If we have made a good selection, 
does not goodness exalt us, and do we not by our example help 
exalt goodness ? 

Let us not look unto others for help heavenward. God is 
within us, and if we do not love to do his will, as manifested 
there, it is folly to become outw T ard servants of the outward. 

God is within thy spirit, even as that is within thy body. 

Oh, how blessed is he who hath felt this to be truth ! To 
know o£ a certainty that in and through the divine presence 
we know and enjoy all things. 



178 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Thus feeling Him to be within us, and knowing how infinite 
is our imperfection, we turn with confidence unto him, feeling 
safe in his infinite perfection. 

Who knoweth God to be indeed within him is already in the 
highest heaven. There can be no knowledge above this knowl- 
edge, and no feeling above the feeling it giveth. 

The spirit goes forth guided by His light ; all things seen 
are thus purified, and by his sight refined. There can be no 
impurities, and the spirit of man, when thus in harmony with 
the spirit of God, can learn only godliness. 

This is enough to learn. He who can see as God seeth, 
witness living thoughts as God creates them, feel pure love as 
it leaves him in rays divine, can truly say, " Our Father which 
art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." 

The noblest, sublimest, and most exalting thought ever felt 
in the spirit of man, is contained in the simple words, God is 
within man. 

This is a center, emitting rays of thought, pure, holy, and 
most refreshing unto man. His spirit feeds upon these, even 
as the flocks of earth upon the green pastures. 

There is no end unto God, neither unto thoughts which his 
presence inspireth. They are broad and boundless, high and 
deep. Ever above, around, and beyond man, yet part of him, 
and part of his Father. 

Oh, let us strive to comprehend that we are indeed always 
in the immediate presence of Divinity. 

Feeling this, our unworthiness is magnified unto our vision, 
for our sight is purified, and we become humble and trusting, 
easily led and guided aright. Temptation weakens before us, 
and we daily grow in wisdom, strength, and purity. 

We become wise children. The strong man in godliness, 
yet the little child in humble trustfulness. We cannot be de- 
ceived, for our affinities are pure, and have no desire for any- 
thing not good. 

Even as the child learns from its own experience of the 
things of earth, so shall we learn from our inward experience 
of the things of heaven. 

We gain experience in heavenly things, as. we cultivate our 
affinity for all in which pure happiness dwells. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 179 

We must first learn our highest duty unto God, our Father, 
and man, our brother, and then do it. If this do not bring 
happiness, if this give no heavenly feeling, then it were in vain 
to search for it. 

It matters but little in what part of the universe the spirit 
dwells, for if God be within it, happiness must be there also. 
Every spirit is fraught with more intelligent love, more divine 
wisdom, more heavenly feeling, than all the outside worlds in 
space condensed could give. 

We may seek and obtain all the wealth the world can give 
us. live in the greatest luxury, and yet a poor bond-slave may 
have wealth a thousand worlds could not buy. 

Oh, it is not in the outer works of his Divine hand that our 
happiness is found, but in the works of his spirit within our 
own souls. The earth is not beautiful unto the blind, but pure 
happiness is sweet and most welcome unto all. 

It is the natural tenant of the soul. A happy spirit, enjoy- 
ing the effects of its own goodness upon itself, must render unto 
our Father a sweet return for its creation. 

Let every man believe that simply doing his own highest 
duty is his only pathway unto pure happiness, and he will 
surely act aright. 

They who clothe heaven with garments difficult to be worn, 
destroy happiness faster than create it. There can be no par- 
ticular rule fitting every action of every man's life, yet God 
within man will, if sought and found, surely reveal unto each 
all that unto him is necessary. 

Happiness cannot be taught, it can only be felt. It is some- 
thing received from God, and man cannot create words to 
fit it. 

Words may carry wisdom, but love carries itself. Words 
cannot open or shut the door of heavenly happiness. Even 
blasphemy is not in words expressed, but deeds ; deeds reveal 
the meaning of the soul. Man may jest in thoughtlessness, 
but the current of his spiritual existence is no more changed 
by it than is the current of the mighty river changed by the 
ripple upon its surface. 

Words may carry folly, they may exhibit mirth or foolish- 



180 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

ness, or reveal the greatest wisdom man can illustrate, but 
within the comprehending power of each listener they are 
weighed, and, if found wanting, are, or should be, cast aside. 

No man need to store away words to take to heaven with 
him, for he will have no tongue to speak them with. They 
belong to the tongue and breath. If the mind and spirit 
prompt their utterance, and God within the spirit furnished 
the feeling worded, then the effect may be stored away, for it 
will be good. 

These are the husks. There is no nourishment for the spirit 
of man in outer worlds or words. Even the word of God, as 
within revealed, would lose its nourishing power could it be 
turned outward. 

God is within thee ; turn inward and listen. The voice of 
our loving Father is silent as his love, as perfect as his truth, 
and as quickening as his light. 

Learn to wait and listen for his coming. Let thy whole 
being be still. In stillness alone He speaketh unto the spirit 
of man. It is easy to make so much noise thou cannot hear 
him. If thy animal nature is tossing in the tempest, wait ; 
God is within waiting to speak ; listen. 

There is most holy music in His voice. Thy being feels 
absorbed in living love. Thou dost know the presence, and 
can never forget it. It cannot be assumed. 

Do not believe thy imperfection an impassable barrier unto 
him. Never give up thy greatest privilege, that of going 
directly to him for counsel. It is within thee the power lies. 
No being can worship for thee. No being can call upon His 
name in thy name. Thou art One, and in His image art thou 
created. 

The highest angel, or man made perfect, or being, save God, 
in existence, in this one point is not one atom above thee. 
There can be no high or low with God, for all in his sight is 
very good. 

Thou art in existence, and God did create thee. Who, or 
what can say more ? The light of his divine intelligence 
quickens thy spirit, and in his strength thou dost grow. 

Others may be more good than thou art, or may be more 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 181 

wise, but the greatest wisdom and the greatest goodness are 
within thy own silent depths. That which they know, and are 
capable of doing, is their own property, and cannot become 
thine. 

All other error from which man has ever suffered combined, 
would not equal the sum of his suffering for not depending im- 
plicitly upon the light of God within his own spirit. 

Man is so constituted that he must depend upon something, 
for he is weak. God may have left this imperfection that He 
should himself be sought. Man being dependent, not being 
perfect, and losing sight of the great privilege of communion 
with his Maker, runs hither and thither after myriad ideas, 
each and every one of which feed his weakness, instead of in- 
creasing his strength. 

No man is wise, save he who hath through his own indi- 
viduality received God's wisdom. All the learning of man, 
not coupled with this anchor, is as the vessel without ballast. 

The greatest men that have ever lived, are those that have, 
through their own faithfulness unto this great living principle 
within them, discovered ideas of goodness. 

And when one true man has digged down through his own 
selfishness, and uncovered one of God's jewels of wisdom, how- 
ever much he may say the jewel is God's, his blind brethren 
chain it fast unto him, and all hail his name. 

Poor blind mortals ! Did they but know their own great, 
perhaps greater gifts, their own names would be immortal. 

The mass of mankind have far more confidence in their ani- 
mal senses, than in their spiritual perceptions. 

The machinery of creation is entirely spiritual. God is a 
spirit, or is not at all. He is everywhere. The great ideas 
of the universe all emanate from, and germinate in him. How 
all things exist He knoweth. He seeth the invisible. We 
poor changing mortals have need of such a being to feed our 
endless progression. We too are spiritual, and are also mate- 
rial in part. Even as countless bodies in space are his body 
or his matter, so our body is of its countless atoms composed, 
and each atom as wonderful and as perfect as a world. 

We can find no end to the finite, how then to the infinite ? 



182 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Each new discovery of the astronomer proveth that the end is 
not yet found, and who hath found the beginning ? 

Oh God ! when will we begin to learn ? We know nothing ; 
all our wisdom combined is an atom of thee : thus we believe, 
and, feeling thou art good, we trust thee and take courage, 
hoping at some time in the eternal future to know thee as 
thou art. 

Let each man be honest unto himself, and he will be true 
unto God. Manliness is the first step in godliness. 

Oh God, do thou dwell within us constantly, that all we 
learn may coincide with thy divine impression. 

Let us dip all our knowledge within thy wisdom, that it may 
be made pure and perfect. 

Oh, let us receive humbly that which is given, for humility 
must be a virtue in the imperfect. 

Could we continually dwell with God in the inner temple of 
spirit, all would be well. This cannot be done, because of our 
imperfection. But within us lies the power of entering into 
this sanctuary of the soul, and worshiping in sincerity and 
truth our own idea of divinity. 

Our spirit worships the spirit of truth and love. We feel 
within our own spirit that true worship requires no utterance. 
The all-seeing God within us requires no words. The soul of 
man is transparent, his spirit like unto a mirror, which, if 
clean, reflects the spirit of its maker, if unclean, even the per- 
fect light of divine wisdom is distorted, and we learn no good 
thing therefrom. 

He who worketh not within himself, might as well remain 
idle, so far as his spiritual advancement is concerned. 

To advance spiritually, our spirits must absorb God's spirit- 
ual truth. As our body groweth from the absorption of out- 
ward truth, so must our spirit grow from the amount of spiritual 
truth we absorb. 

Age and experience refine and re-refine our collection, as 
we gradually journey on toward perfection : or our compre- 
hension expands, and we view in new lights the same truths. 

Thus each man carries his own works into heaven with him, 
and helps to enlarge its happiness. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 183 

There is nothing created in vain. All things are necessary 
unto each being in existence, and each being is necessary unto 
God's perfection. 

All truth is practical and harmonious. God's light quickens 
every spiritual being, and every spiritual being in receiving 
His light, giveth back pleasure in return. It is his love which 
unites, controls, and harmonizes all things from the least unto 
the greatest. 

The greatest enjoyment is found where there are the most 
beings comprehending happiness. 

God created companionship. 

Heaven might be likened unto a sweet, pure place, in which 
dwell the children of God, who comprehend his blessings ; and 
in proportion as they approach toward the perfecting of their 
own beings, in the same proportion do they ascend toward the 
highest blessings. 

I would not wall in heaven, with impassable barriers, for 
God is good. He who ascends, registers his name higher and 
higher, and receives, as his capacity expands, more pure and 
holy joys. Man cannot stop. God's love does not stand idle. 
God's life liveth in all things. His breath creates the winds, 
and they go forth laden with fragrance. 

Man must do. Whether in heaven or upon earth, he 
must have constant occupation. The laboring of hands on 
earth merely effects the promptings from within. And the 
truth that the hands belong to the earth, and must thereon 
remain, does not annihilate the prompting power which guided 
them, for an effect cannot have power over its cause. 

Man receiveth happiness unto the amount of goodness he 
hath done, and is capable of doing. It is natural for the over- 
worked to pray for rest, and to enjoy it when received. But 
rest is as tiresome as labor when its enjoyment ceases. 

Heaven is as earth, for it is merely the future state of the 
present earth. He who supposes he loses his individuality 
when he enters heaven, has but a poor idea of happiness. The 
laborer taketh home that which he hath done. Each man 
maketh his own happiness, for, view it as we will, he must com- 
prehend, or he cannot enjoy, and labor enlarges comprehension. 



184 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Thus, then, each man's occupation on earth must stamp his 
name in heaven. That which he does in the present, causes 
that which he receives in the future. 

Man may repent, but repentance is not contained in words. 
If thou hast done wrongly, change thy ways, and thus give 
proof of thy sincerity. 

.No man who sits still in his goodness, is either an orna- 
ment unto earth or heaven. Passive goodness is a drone in 
heaven. Neither will he, who only sings silly praises unto God, 
find anything in heaven save that which he hath power to enjoy. 

Truth is eternal, and eternally the same. Repeating God's 
name is no evidence of comprehending his truth ; neither is 
there any truth in the simple name which can render man 
happy. God's intelligence cannot be elated with the foolish 
worship of him who hath it not. 

Be humble at all times, and address Deity only when thou 
cannot help it, and then thy prayer will be heard, and thou 
will be benefited. 

Heaven is holy happiness. Happiness cometh from higher 
development. Higher development cometh from more holy 
aspirations, and more goodly employment. 

Employment is necessary unto man's happiness in all stages 
of his existence ; and, as God is good, good employment must 
result in godliness. 

He who labors on earth will desire to labor in heaven. Being 
eternally his own self, he can eternally collect and retain eter- 
nal truths, in which, as brilliant gems, are incased happiness, 
love, purity, and holiness. 

He who labors for God on earth will labor for God in heaven. 
Man's labor does not end at the death of his body. The earth 
is not all that exists. The high thoughts and pure aspirations 
grow as truly from seed, as grow the flowers of earth. And 
to tend and develop these is man's eternal employment. 

When the body is cast aside, the power of retaining purely 
material truths is gone. The truths which belong exclusively 
to the earth cannot leave it. Man's brain is a refining fur- 
nace, into which these truths are thrown to be purified, and 
from them he can receive most valuable information. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 185 

This information helps to enlarge his capacity for refining, 
and so after death of the body he goes on the extended earthly 
path toward perfection. 

Heaven is one vast workhouse. There is no idleness known 
there, for happiness and idleness have no affinity. There is 
as much room for doing good in heaven as upon earth. God's 
goodness hath not made man perfect. 

In the regions where the ideal is the real, how poor must he 
be who hath no ideal. Earthly realities, that is, earthly 
animal enjoyments, are poor helpers unto the comprehending 
of the reality of the future. Better have poverty on earth and 
riches in heaven. Better enjoy that which is lasting and eter- 
nal in its nature, if not quite so sweet in the present, than to 
be so utterly destitute when most needing help. 

Man should learn to do. Let him reduce unto realities all 
of his high perceptions. Fix them in his mind firmly by exer- 
cising them ; within, by reflection, and without, by doing that 
which they dictate unto his fellow-man. 

Thus his ideal becometh real. His power of reducing his 
own high thoughts and aspirations to outer realities through 
action, should lead him gradually and surely up toward his 
ultimate perfection. Thus action and aspiration become two 
great staffs, upon which he leans, not only on earth, but in that 
future state, termed heaven. 

And how infinitely larger must such an one's heaven be 
than the heaven of him who idly chants his Maker's name, in 
easy attitudes and words. Verily, they have their reward. 

Do not worship God blindly. Do his will as within thee it 
is manifested. While surrounded and permeated by hig intel- 
ligence and love, what folly to call loudly upon his name, and 
praise him for what he hath done, and ask him to do more. 
Does he not know all things ? Can thy poor foolish ignorance 
teach him anything, save thy own folly ? And will he do wrongly, 
if thou insist upon it ? Or, hast thou no confidence at all in 
his goodness, that thou should mistrust him continually ? 

Were He not good, what would become of poor man ? 

He that in a good measure comprehends the working of the 
divine hand around him, and the working of the divine mind 
13 



186 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

within his mind, and feels within his spirit the quickening 
power of the divine spirit, can worship his Heavenly Father 
most intelligently. 

God is visible in his works. Could man see as clearly with 
his spiritual eye the workings of the spirit, as with his out- 
ward eye he can detect the results of outward combinations, 
he would have more faith in the perfection of his Creator. 

The earth commences teaching man. His eternal existence, 
as an individual, begins upon the earth. 

And what beautiful simplicity is manifested in this begin- 
ning ! We first learn the simplest outward truth, and having 
learned that truth, an eternity will not change its nature, we 
know it forever. 

There are changes wrought upon truths, but there is no 
change in the knowledge derived from truth. We are eternal 
children of one eternal truth. We change, but having learned 
our first lesson in the outward, our changing to the inward 
gives us our next great lesson. When we awake in another 
sphere of existence, and have our spiritual eyes opened, we will 
learn results of causes still beyond that which is then present. 

While the weak and silly-minded are singing foolish praises 
unto the name of the god which is their idol, let us humbly 
remember that the wind which wafts along one sweet scent 
from a dying rose, is laden with truth, which is God's praise, 
though forever unsung. And who shall say which unto per- 
fection is most acceptable, the one which praises in profound 
ignorance things not comprehended, or the one which simply 
doeth that which is required of it ? 

If we love the perfection of Deity, let us do it most humbly, 
for we are truly very imperfect. Be not ashamed of our weak- 
ness, for that were still weaker. He who learns continually 
gains strength in proportion. 

It does seem to me that our Creator designed we should first 
learn and then love. Our earthly life begins thus. We seem 
to learn pain before pleasure. We learn transgression and 
punishment before repentance and love. 

We must begin at the beginning and learn rightly. We 
need not worry because it pleased God thus to create us, but 
being as we are, let us strive to improve upon what we have. 



CHAPTER XVI 



TRUTH— GOD'S WORD— DEATH MAN'S DELIVERER. 

We handle daily keys of eternal wisdom. Keys which open 
the door unto truth, and which reveal the highest and purest 
love. But of what advantage are such keys unto us, unless 
we know how to apply them ? We may be among creative 
powers, have them around us at work shaping and arranging 
natural objects, but being blind we cannot see, and being deaf 
we cannot hear them. 

The power of creating is God's. Whether it is within the 
capability of man, after ages of learning, to create worlds out 
of what he now considers chaos, those ages of his endless pro- 
gression must determine. 

Every day in the life of man opens unto his mind some new 
truth, of which he was ignorant before. And as he retains 
some part of each, he must at length become wise indeed. A 
willing, pure mind can learn nothing injurious. It is always 
better to study the harmonious action of Divinity, than the 
unharmonious, selfish action of man. If we are right ourselves 
our vision will always be clear. If we are not right, all things 
will be dimmed by our own selfishness. 

Herein we see that first of all we should purify ourselves. 
Let us become as clean vessels for the reception of God's truth, 
and all we receive will be pure. 

Man's strength is truly but weakness. He thinks himself 
strong, and the first temptation overcomes his strength. Of 
himself he can do no good thing. When governed by the 
spirit of God within him, his actions become godlike, but when 
governed by his animal powers, he becometh a fit associate for 
the beasts of the field that perish. 

Every man has some weakness, which is overcome by tempt- 



188 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

ation. It is through transgression that wisdom is learned, but 
it is through purity and holiness that God's light shineth. 

Let no man transgress against his own high perceptions of 
right and duty, for the wisdom gained by such transgression is 
full of the anguish of remorse. 

Go where we will, and act as we may, we must learn con- 
tinually, for truth is everywhere. As intelligent beings, and 
as the recipients of the divine light, it becometh us to dwell 
righteously on earth. 

Surely God is mercifuL What man can look back over his 
past life, and feel satisfied that at any time he was worthy of 
his high title, the son of God ? Are not all our ways most 
selfish ? Have we not always looked far more to the gratifi- 
cation of our flesh than our spirit ? Wherein can our Father 
find compensation for creating us ? 

We are all weakness, and in our weakness we have pride ! 
We think it strength. But strength resisteth temptation, and 
doeth good despite of weakness. Strength hath the arm of 
truth and the heart of love, it feareth nothing. God is strong. 

The more goodness man hath within him, the more strength 
and the less pride are his. The truly strong feel weak, and 
the truly weak feel strong. Strength is humble dependence 
upon God, weakness is proud reliance upon self. The one too 
humble to act by itself, the other too proud to ask assistance. 
Such are strength and weakness, direct opposites in nature and 
action. 

If thou dost feel truly weak, strength is increasing ; if thou 
feel strong, temptation is near that will surely overcome thee. 
Learn to distrust thy own strength, and to depend upon God's. 

Learn to look upon all things as valuable, only so far as 
they contain or illustrate truth. It is through the truths of 
thy own experience thou learnest most wisdom. Take nothing 
from any authority, save just so far as thou can believe in its 
truth. 

Should thou believe thou hast seen error in what all man- 
kind have been looking upOn as truth, and if thou can prove 
thou art right, then it becometh thy duty to make known thy 
discovery, even though it cost thee thy earthly life. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 189 

Let no fear or favor ever deter thee from being a truly 
honest man. The highest altar on earth upon which thou can 
be sacrificed is truth. Truth alone can stand the test of ages, 
for it alone existeth within the eternal Father. 

It is eternal. Within it is time, and eternity is but part of 
it. How then can man gain too much knowledge of it ? Or 
why should we fear to search for it everywhere ? Or why 
should he fear to reject all in which it is not ? 

We should always remember that our own judgment is weak 
and liable to err, and should therefore be humble ourselves 
and charitable unto others, but, when convinced we are right, 
our humility and charity should not be permitted to keep us 
from saying so, let the consequences be what they may. 

There cannot anything save good come from the utterance 
of truth. And no matter how much truth is derided, it is all 
the same truth. It cannot be altered in nature, and he who 
strives to cast derision upon truth only clothes himself in tat- 
tered rags of shame. 

No man need be ashamed for truth, it is perfectly pure. 

God's word is the voice of truth, and all truth is God's word. 
The spiritual mind of man has the highest comprehending 
powers of all created beings, and therefore must he receive 
within himself God's word in greatest purity. Being indi- 
vidual in nature, separate and distinct, he must receive within 
his own highest spiritual comprehension that which unto him 
is the word of God. 

Thus, then, would every man become an humble learner of 
the Word, which is eternal. God would speak much plainer 
than books, and would be much easier understood. 

His word, when spoken by himself unto each individual, is 
the highest truth the individual can comprehend. Let no man 
think he can measure God's word, but let no man fear to strive 
to comprehend all truth. 

God does not speak through tradition, neither does he uphold 
superstition, for they hinder man's progress. There can be 
no such thing as sacred tradition, for man's mind, both in its 
spiritual and physical capacity, is continually progressing, and 
therefore all superstition and all tradition must have a weak- 
ening tendency. 



190 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

God's word is never traditional, it is simply true. True in 
all times and places, and under all circumstances perfect in its 
harmony. Who, save Him, can utter it? There are those 
who can hear it, but no man can speak it. 

It is very difficult for man to embody his own thoughts in 
words, then how could he utter one of God's perfect thoughts ? 
A perfect instrument giveth perfect music when attuned in 
harmony, but man is not perfect enough to act as an infallible 
mouth-piece for Deity. 

It seemed good unto Deity to create him thus. 

The word of God is spoken within the spiritual mind of 
every son he hath created. There can be no exception. All 
are responsible unto him for the amount of their own compre- 
hension of his word, as he giveth it unto them. 

There is thus within each child an holy fountain of truth, 
which will quench their thirst far more effectually than aught 
else they can possibly obtain. Tradition and superstition are 
always behind thee, whereas God's word within thee con- 
stantly leadeth onward and upward toward the comprehension 
of all truth. 

Man, to progress rightly, wants an untrammeled mind. No 
forms must bind him, but, free master of his own will, he must 
receive the manifestations of truth, and boldly put them forth 
as he received, leaving consequences unto God. 

All things are secondary unto the word of God. And all 
privileges are as naught, compared with the privilege of receiv- 
ing it within thy own spiritual mind. It can be received in no 
other manner. Flesh and blood cannot hear it. Upon the 
spiritual harp God breathes, and the vibrations prompt man 
to do holy actions, and think holy thoughts. Through holy 
affinity unto our Father come the manifestations of his divine 
love. 

When He speaketh do thou listen, oh my soul, and let wis- 
dom be thine. And oh, learn to listen unto naught else, for 
my highest good can come alone from him who saw fit to create 
me in his divine image. 

We have nothing unchangeable and eternal in us, save that 
which cometh not from man. All enduring wisdom and hap- 
piness come direct from him. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 191 

The spiritual aspirations of man have for ages been smothered 
under the thick folds of superstitious bigotry. The name of 
religion and Christianity have been used by hypocrites as a 
shield, hiding them from the darts of truth. Traditional rights 
and privileges have become sacred in the eyes of man. 

Truth becometh more beautiful in proportion as we behold 
its simplicity. Any man or set of men who refuse to bring 
their belief unto the light of truth to be tested, are unworthy 
of confidence. So soon as religion ceases to do good unto 
man, it becomes hollow and of no account. 

God is not worshiped by empty words. Language is simply 
a carriage, composed of sound, in which rides truth or error. 
And let the carriage be ever so highly gilded, it cannot hide 
the deformity of error, nor the beauty of truth, from the honest 
seeker. 

That only is God's word, which at all times and in all places 
harmonizes with all truth. Accept this as thy rule of judg- 
ment, and no one will palm upon thee anything of their own 
producing, however much they may think or say it is God's 
word. 

When God speaketh, who can add or take away ? There- 
fore, be never presumptuous. Presume not upon thy own 
weakness, neither upon thy Father's strength, for such pre- 
sumption would render thee unfit to receive from him. 

Thou cannot prove God hath spoken unto thee. Thou can 
believe it, but to prove it requireth not only faith, but also an 
enlightened understanding in him who listens. Proof goes 
before faith. Therefore, God proveth his own voice. If He 
do not prove it thou cannot. There must be a witness within 
each one in thy favor, else thou wilt not be believed. 

This is the guard unto truth. He who utters a boundless 
truth, will have many witnesses in the multitude. One pure 
truth, however small apparently, will feed a multitude of 
hungry and thirsty spirits. And the truth will grow in such 
manner that could it again be gathered from the listeners, it 
would have increased an hundred fold. 

One small blessing, apparently becometh great indeed, when, 
through God's goodness, it becometh everlasting. He who 



192 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

expects great blessings, is not fitted to receive them. Strive 
to appreciate truth, however small it may appear. The vine 
cometh from a very small seed, with favoring circumstances 
will climb the highest tree, and from the very topmost branch 
will display its fruit unto the despiser of little things below. 

The vine may die, but its seed liveth for another generation. 
There is no end. The Creator of all things is perfect, and all 
things are necessary unto Him, or they could not be. The 
outward is continually passing away, but the spirit of man is 
above the law. 

It too becometh refined. While in the flesh it lays the 
foundation for its future glory. Stone after stone is laid in 
its eternal temple, and the stones are truth, and the temple the 
knowledge of its own experience. 

There are truths so refined and so pure, that they dwell not 
upon earth. Not that the earth's truths are not pure, but that 
there are truths in God so pure that to comprehend them ages 
of heavenly reflection and study are necessary. 

For truth is always beautiful and always lovely. But the 
earth and its changing beauties are but the outside husks, so 
to speak, or the sediment, dropped from the matured fruit 
within. While upon the earth we think it lovely and beauti- 
ful, because we look through its own eyes, but oh, when 
those fit us no longer, and we take upon us the great privilege 
of spiritual vision, then indeed the earth fadeth away, and be- 
cometh chaos again. 

We journey on in our progression, and God doth ever appear 
to create anew worlds upon worlds for subjects of our thought. 
Oh, how common it is to hear men say God is good, but one 
man cannot be found who knoweth its full meaning. 

He planted us in earth. We grow in heaven, and live unto 
all eternity. And live in such supreme happiness, that time, 
or the passing moment, is never noticed. We dwell in Him, 
for he is everywhere in all happiness. Easily found and never 
lost. Quickening all his children, teaching, guiding, elevating, 
and enlarging all. 

The light of his intelligence, softened by his love, illuminates 
all space, and, though hidden from the flesh, this light is the 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 193 

love-light of spiritual vision. In our purest moments it some- 
times looks out clearly upon some loved one, and we see beauties 
before unknown. 

Let us desire a pure vision. Let us desire to see all things 
as emanations from the divine hand. The thought is elevating 
in its nature, and we need not fear getting too high, for, get as 
high as we will, the earth is still upon us, and ever and anon 
will bear us down to the dreadful outward reality of our own 
weak nature. 

No harm can come from high aspirations, which are tem- 
pered by reason, and, unless so tempered, they are not high, 
and should be avoided. 

The son of (Grod cannot get too high, cannot gain too much 
knowledge, neither can he enjoy too much of his Father's 
goodness. The earth giveth him pleasure in the commence- 
ment of his journey, and in the end thereof he tires, and de- 
sires higher and holier food. 

There is no sustenance on earth for an exalted spirit. Within 
the hidden truths of divine wisdom is food and drink for eter- 
nal spirits to enjoy. Every man knows that his greatest yearn- 
ing is continually after something still beyond, still higher and 
holier. 

We are of the earth, and are earthy in nature. We are con- 
tinually progressing, casting off the burdens of yesterday, and 
longing after those of to-morrow. 

The end of the body is a great change for man. All of his 
familiar landmarks are in an instant overturned, and he 
shakes himself free from all weight, save the dreadful ties of 
affinity. 

Cultivate high affinities, and the end of earth will be the 
beginning of a truly happy existence. 

It is right that we should die, else we could not do it, for it 
is our outward passage unto eternal life. 

Life in man's being is eternal, but when he casts off the out- 
ward body he casts off also outer laws, and hence we say he has 
entered eternity, simply because he can no more keep a record 
of time. Time might be called the body of eternity. It is ex- 
clusively outward in its nature, and all of its measurement is 



194 THE HEALING OP THE NATIONS. 

outward. When man enters eternity, or when he leaves the 
body behind him, he pays all the debt he owes unto time. 

Let every man be careful that the things of time do not 
become too precious unto him. It is utterly impossible for 
him to take one atom's weight of earth with him beyond the 
gates of death. 

Cast it off, thou hast no further use for it. All of the earth, 
from which thou can receive benefit in rendering thee happy, 
or giving wisdom, is in thy memory. 

The law of gravitation would forever keep thee upon the 
earth if thou wert not above the law. The body belongs unto 
the earth.. Thou hast had it the allotted time, and now it is 
due ; thou must pay it back, and, in so doing, square thy 
account. 

It is a great change. View death as we will, it is indeed a 
great trial to pass through, and requireth more confidence in 
God's goodness than all other trials of our life. 

To see our dissolution approaching gradually, slowly, but 
most surely, is hard indeed, unless we have felt that our Father 
art in heaven, and we are his well loved children. 

He knoweth our weakness, for we are of his own creating, 
and surely the child cannot suffer without receiving its Father's 
loving sympathy. 

There is truth and love beyond our dissolution which can- 
not be known on earth. Could we learn all in heaven while 
in earth, there would be no use for death. Could man become 
perfect in flesh, he need not die. He must be free to learn the 
truths of God's eternal freedom. Death is his deliverer. 

It delivers him from the toils and troubles of time. It de- 
livers him unto the happiness he has earned. It takes away 
his load, and gives him access unto all truths of all space 
which he hath power to comprehend. There is no limit. 

God doth not measure out man's happiness unto him ; each 
man is full, yet filleth himself. Each one has that which he 
can feel to be happiness, for there is no happiness unless it is 
comprehended, and the reason of this is, that all happiness 
dwells within the light and love of Divinity, which are his own 
perfect, boundless comprehension. 



THE HEALING OP THE NATIONS. 195 

When the stalk dies the seed is ripe. He who has lived a 
righteous life on earth will die a righteous death, and live a 
glorious life thereafter. 

Let each man study the laws of his spiritual being, and its 
connection with the Creator, for such knowledge lasteth for- 
ever. 

There is no knowledge truly valuable unto an eternal being, 
save that which can be forever retained. 

Each man should live as long as possible. It is good to be 
in the flesh, else we had never been in it, but it is also good to 
leave it. Each man should strive to understand the laws of 
his being, in order to make his life long and his sojourn in flesh 
pleasant. 

Do not imagine God inflicts punishments which are directly 
traceable unto thy own indulgences. To transgress good laws 
must necessarily bring suffering, for, if the suffering come not, 
the law is not good. 

Let us not imagine, therefore, that it is God's will that we 
die young. He placed us in flesh, in order that we should 
learn wisdom therefrom, and the longer we can remain therein 
the more we shall learn. 

Do not let us make haste to get into heaven, for the getting 
into heaven is simply comprehending happiness, and this can 
as well be done on earth as anywhere. It does seem unto my 
understanding that the idea of getting into heaven only after 
dissolution of the body is most absurd. If heaven means only 
happiness, or a happy state, then it is within the experience of 
every rational being living in flesh that they have been in 
heaven. 

We can all get into heaven, but to stay there is truly a dif- 
ficult task. Yet let us not be discouraged, but rather let us 
thank God that it is so, for herein lies the proof of our eternal 
progression. 

We can only be satisfied once with one draught. It may be 
most sweet, it may fill our being full of most pure, most holy 
happiness, but it can never again satisfy the growing, ascend- 
ing, aspiring spirit of man. 

Yet we look back unto these bright spots in our journey, 



196 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

and long once more to enjoy such sweet and refreshing happi- 
ness, but could we go back to them we would indeed find we 
had gone back, and were not satisfied. Onward and upward is 
the course of man. God has not grown less, neither hast 
thou. 

Never desire to return to any bright, resting-place, even 
though thou may think the Father rested with thee. Go on, 
and thou will ever find happiness is before thee, and not be- 
hind. And thy happiness is part of thy nature, or the result 
of thy nature, subject unto the same laws as the development 
of thy mind and spirit, for it is from their development that 
thy comprehension of happiness cometh. 

Thus, therefore, if it be good for us to be in flesh at all, it 
is good to stay in it as long as possible, and becomes our duty 
to strive to comprehend the laws of our being, in order to grow 
in all wisdom pertaining to our whole being. We should study 
the laws of our bodily health, as well as the laws of our spirit- 
ual health, for to have the greatest health the two should har- 
monize. 

To man there can be no place more lovely or more beautiful 
than the earth, for his whole being is composed of the earth, 
save his spiritual part, and is in affinity with all things thereof 
and thereon, and therefore must, through this affinity, enjoy 
more than he could anything for which there was no affinity. 

A well developed, harmonious organization can enjoy more 
real happiness on earth than an undeveloped and unharmonious 
spirit can in what is termed heaven, simply because the com- 
prehension of truth, and, consequently, happiness, is larger. 

Death is man's deliverer, but it does not necessarily deliver 
him unto happiness, neither misery, it simply taketh him unto 
his reward. 

The reward is simply what each one has earned, for God is 
just. Therefore, let no man be terrified or scared by those 
who lack wisdom, but let each one strive to be upright and 
just in all their doings. Let love guide our every action, and 
let us keep humble before God, and death can have no terrors. 

A weak mind may be overpowered by a stronger one and 
have its hold upon God so shaken as to be brought to depend 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 197 

upon outside forms, instead of its own inward light, and such 
a mind will suifer most intensely in its dissolution, or the dis- 
solution of its stronghold. But where the spirit remains firm, 
and steadfastly trusts in God's goodness, death is simply the 
sleep of the body from which the soul alone awaketh. 

To a healthy organization, wherein the spirit has lived in 
harmony with the mind and fleshy powers to a good old age, 
the death-sleep is as acceptable and as full of rest as any sleep 
the tired body ever enjoyed. 

To enjoy rest we must be tired. And truly when age hath 
weakened all the animal powers of man, so that the spirit 
seems fettered by the flesh, and becomes only a clog instead of 
a help-meet, then indeed it must be a rest to cast off the old, 
worn-out shell, and enter a free existence with wings unbound. 
Surely such freedom, after such bondage, must be part of 
heaven unto the spirit of man. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

ETERNAL MISERY — HAPPINESS — THE SOUL'S FREEDOM- 
MARTYRDOM FOR TRUTH— JUSTICE. 

The old man should enter heavenly happiness at the death 
of his body. He should have earned a glorious reward. His 
vision should be purified, and his understanding enlarged, so 
that God's goodness would be plain unto him. It is a lovely 
sight to see a good old man start on his heavenly journey, laden 
with his own fruit, taking home to his Father's house many 
more talents than he received. 

God giveth us power, for the use of which we are responsible, 
not only unto God but unto our own happiness, for if we increase 
not our happiness will we not enjoy the less ? Let us not flat- 
ter ourselves that our Father will weep over our shortcomings, 
but rather let us humbly hope He may receive joy from our 
happiness. If we fulfill not our powers our enjoyment must 
be less. 

Thus, when age comes upon the man who has been temperate 
in all things it brings but little pain, f for his being is in an har- 
monious state. And when death comes it comes as a relief, 
for his spirit has learned that time is but a stepping-stone of 
its existence. 

But when age comes upon the one who has worshiped at the 
altar of the things of time, and when the spirit first compre- 
hends that it has no provision for its endless journey, then in- 
deed we may pity the condition of that being, and hope we may 
never come to realize such a state. 

If we are to exist forever, and as we know the body returneth 
unto the earth, is it not most foolish to become enamored of 
those things which must be left when we leave the body ? 
Would it not be far more rational and far more becoming 
rational beings, to endeavor to collect only such things as can 
stay with us and enlarge our capacity of enjoyment ? 



• 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 199 

It would be more sensible to collect spiritual information or 
wisdom which enlarges our spiritual powers, than to collect the 
most beautiful adornments for the body. 

Let us not think that we can gain anything by calling con- 
tinually upon the name of our Creator, but rather let us work 
out our own glorification with the tools his kindness placed 
within our workhouse, and thus become creditable worshipers. 

I cannot conceive that God heareth all the silly stuff called 
worship, which emanates from the lungs and throats of men ; 
if he do, how perfect must be his charity ! It would seem unto 
an humble wise man most foolish, then how must it seem unto 
perfection ? 

Sects quarreling about words ! Whole assemblies disputing 
about which shall be most acceptable unto God ! Condemn- 
ing each unto eternal misery simply because of their brains 
being constructed differently ! 

When a man is truly weak, or when a society of men become 
conscious of their weakness, how very natural to try to hide 
behind a brother's weakness. I cannot believe that the misery 
of one-half of the human family is essential unto the happiness 
of the other half. Neither do I believe that heaven, if located 
anywhere, is too small to hold all God's children. 

I have never learned to believe, for such belief must be 
learned, it is not natural to man, that God favoreth any people. 
A sect or society may flatter itself it is a favored people, but 
flattery doth not exalt the spirit of man. 

Thus, if a man die in one belief, those entertaining the oppo- 
site belief consign him to endless misery, and thank God they 
are not as he ! This idea of endless misery, it seems to me, 
must come entirely from the animal in man, for it is certainly 
too low and irrational to have emanated from any enlightened 
spirit. 

God's love must be perfect and pure, for he is perfect, and 
we should never imagine him partial because this is one of our 
own great imperfections, unworthy of our own highest nature. 
We are too weak to merit eternal misery. We have no powers 
which can be sufficiently perverted in a short earth-life to earn 
eternal misery as our reward. 



200 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Neither can we earn perfect happiness, for our whole being 
is progressive and cannot at anj time stop at what we choose 
to consider perfect happiness. 

Inasmuch as God is good, our progression must always be 
toward goodness and not toward misery. A man may retro- 
grade, but ever and anon bright flashes of what he was will 
cross his path with an almost redeeming power. And the good- 
ness in the end must succeed, because goodness created us. 

Had an embodiment of misery brought us into being, then 
misery had been happiness, for it would have been the main- 
spring of our existence, and we would then have clung to it 
even as we now shun it. 

Our highest happiness cometh from being and doing good, 
not from the opposite, and hence we cling unto goodness and 
shun the opposite. This is perfectly natural, and we would 
love goodness or happiness and do everything to promote it, 
even though we had no spirit nor powers of reasoning, for the 
animals do even this, thus in their dumb way proving man's 
folly and God's wisdom. 

Every instinctive quality we possess, points toward that 
which shall insure our happiness. All the animal of our nature 
would enjoy itself to its fullest capacity if we were not given 
other and higher powers, which in a measure necessarily con- 
flict with our animal part. As animals we should feel that life 
was a blessing to the full extent of our powers of feeling. 

Any one who has seen the enjoyment of animals when far 
removed from the fear of man, will not hesitate to believe them 
happy to the full extent of their capacity for enjoyment. 

Then if happiness is the destiny of the lower animals, should 
it not be of man, the highest animal ? The animal part we 
know is in common with all animals derived from the earth, and 
the spiritual part we can also know is not derived from the 
earth, simply because there is no embodiment of wisdom on the 
earth capable of producing it ; neither is there food in matter 
which can nourish the spirit, which is purely immaterial in its 
nature. 

At the death of man the body, in common with all animals, 
decays, dissolves, and finally becomes atoms of earth again. Is 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 201 

there eternal happiness or eternal unhappiness in this truth ? 
Can atoms of earth comprehend joy or pain? Can lifeless 
bones feel pleasure or dust suffer pain ? Would not such ideas 
seem unto a reflecting mind most absurd ? 

Thus then if it is not in the power of the animal man to 
carry misery or happiness beyond the grave, but must leave 
with the body in the earth all things appertaining thereunto 
even unto the most minute particle, it would seem very foolish 
indeed to load ourselves too heavy with flesh by encouraging 
its desires. And it would seem still more foolish to imagine 
that these atoms would ever, by a good and just Creator, be 
collected and reanimated for the sole purpose of torturing them 
for deeds done while in the old body. 

I cannot conceive that God can know wrath. And even if 
he could, man is too insignificant to excite his wrath or merit 
his vengeance. At our greatest earthly height what can we 
do ? Can we alter or in the least degree affect his works ? 
No ! All our arts and sciences fall far short of the power of 
destroying one of his pure truths. The earth and all other 
heavenly bodies continue in their courses, the seasons come and 
go as regularly where man is not as where he is most thickly 
settled. 

In the outside view of man's nature, we can find nothing 
which will in the least degree merit any suffering save what he 
brings upon himself or is brought upon him by inheritance. 
There are accidents continually befalling man, but such suf- 
fering is not merited unless the accident is traceable unto his 
own willful carelessness. 

All suffering proceeds from consciousness, for we must know 
of it else we do not suffer ; how then can a dead body suffer ? 
The flesh of man drops from him and takes along with it all 
power of corporeal pain. 

The soul, or as I understand the term, the unity representing 
spirit and the wisdom extracted from matter, the soul at the 
dissolution of the body becometh to a certain extent free. 

If the spirit has lived in its earthly temple in harmony with 
the highest powers of the brain, and by exciting and inciting 
them to pure aspirations and good actions, and has itself sought 
14 



202 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

daily food at the hand of God in order for its strength in good 
works, then the wisdom of God in that soul hath made it free 
indeed, and the limit of its freedom that soul cannot find, for it 
is in harmony with all things. 

There is nothing which can render the soul of man free, save 
the knowledge of the truth which is the wisdom of the Most 
High. The enlightened soul enters heavenly happiness laden 
with keys, even as a good steward, and every key shall open 
at his desire myriad doors of eternal passages of truth. There 
shall be no end to his vision, and every part of his being shall 
be filled by the goodness of God. 

No man hath ever imagined the capacity of the human soul. 
It hath not entered into the mind of man to conceive of the 
glory which awaits him if true unto his highest inspiration. 

Every power of his brain hath ample room for play in heaven. 
In his happy future the soul receives as reward the fruits of the 
earthly labor. Even as a seed multiplies in its fruit, so do the 
powers of enjoyment multiply in the soul of man. 

The spirit is the temple in which Jehovah is found. The 
soul carries earth-formed affinities, the spirit hath alone affinity 
for its divine source, and within the spirit alone can man find 
his Maker and commune with him. 

The soul hath been likened unto the body of the spirit. And 
this forms a new and purer being than that which we find on 
earth, because all the animal is left behind save that contained 
in affinity. And the power of animal transgression and its 
fruits are gone forever. 

The spirit looks out of its heavenly cage, and if its affinities 
have been formed closely unto the things of time, then the 
vision is confined thereby, and that spirit's progress is more 
slow, in precise proportion unto its earthly progression in 
wisdom. 

Let us strive while upon earth to purify our vision, by seek- 
ing to look through the divine light, and thus enlarge and 
purify our spiritual body. We lose nothing on earth by being 
and doing good. It is a great gain to suffer bodily in the 
spirit's service, or in doing what we believe to be God's will. 
We may suffer greatly, but should we take pride therein our 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 203 

suffering hath done us no good. A martyr is not one who 
boasts of his suffering, but one who suffers in humbleness and 
meekness that God may be glorified, and unto such the glory 
will be in proportion as God is unto them. 

He who by suffering can fix one truth firmly in the human 
mind hath earned the consequences resulting from that truth. 
His reward cometh after the fruit is ripe. He might be said 
to gain all that is lost by those who persecute him. 

Truth is firm and steadfast, and so are its true disciples. It 
is unto him who fixeth good ideas in the understanding of man 
that truth giveth great reward. 

He who discovers one good idea, whose fruit shall enlarge 
the understanding of man, hath done a great and good action. 
Dig deep. There are numberless men who live and die upon 
the surface, but the names remembered by man through ages 
of time, are those men who discovered or forcibly illustrated some 
great truth. 

Those who dwell upon the surface catch only the most 
changeable truths, and hence cannot live past the changing 
truths of which they are formed. Those who dig deep, and 
find truths that do not change, but are eternal in nature, and 
devote their time to illustrating such truths, will, in return, 
have their names coupled with their discoveries and illustra- 
tions, and such names will long be known on earth. 

Man's suffering for truth simply helps to fix attention upon 
the truth. Other men seeing a brother willing to give up all 
enjoyment of earth, and even life, if necessary, rather than do 
that which they conceive to be wrong, have great respect for 
that man, and are naturally led to inquire into the truth for 
which he suffered. 

Let us examine all things for truth's sake. But let no man's 
suffering blind us unto his imperfection. Some men court 
suffering and persecution, in order to increase the number 
of their followers, knowing that sympathy leadeth unto love. 
It seems to me that we should be on our guard against our 
brother's weakness almost so much as our own. 

God, and those attributes which represent him unto our 
understanding, truth, love, light, are all man does really re- 



204 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

quire. One man must have dwelt with his father at one 
time, having no instructor save Him, and who would say he 
needed more ? 

Man is a social being, yet how very common is it for him to 
give unto society only his worst part ! He may gild his actions 
and appear very good, but this in the mass only covers the dark 
chasm beneath. 

Should each and every man give.unto all only those thoughts 
which he knew to be good, and do unto others only that which 
he believed perfectly right to do, would not heaven settle down 
upon earth ? Would not God walk again with his son, and 
instruct him in that which was best for him to do ? And how 
much faster man would progress in wisdom ! 

Man by his actions builds a wall, not around heaven, but 
around himself. He raises huge palisades of groveling pas- 
sions around him, which secure him almost effectually against 
the divine attributes of his Creator. He lays his foundation 
on earth, thinking to rise above the heavens, but, alas ! the 
earth it is within him which cannot rise. It seems very strange 
that he should studiously avoid his highest good. 

We have time for the collection of everything appertaining 
unto our bodily wants. We can rise early and work late for 
the promotion of our earthly nature. We can devote ourselves 
steadily through a long life unto amassing wealth, giving our 
health and strength unto the task, until old, and weak, and 
weary, we totter on the edge of the grave ! 

Then, perhaps, when our serviceable qualities are all gone, 
we have nothing to lose, and all to gain, we remember our 
Creator, and call upon his name for help ! Then we feel our 
great loss, then we realize that time hath been unto us a life- 
long grave, in which we have buried our greatest treasure. 

Our Father's love must surely be perfect, and his mercy 
pure, but who can expect to escape his justice ? It is the light 
within which rendereth the account unto Deity. Let us not 
flatter ourselves that we can escape from our own conscious- 
ness and enter a state of unconsciousness when we leave the 
body. 

We learn while upon earth that he who plants reaps as he 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 205 

plants, only greater fold, the same in kind ; but if the seed be 
good, the yield surpasses in quantity the amount planted. All 
seeds bring forth fruit after their kind. 

From this we can form an idea of God's justice. We see, 
also, that the same cause produces invariably the same effects, 
without regard to any man's opinions, from which again we 
can infer that God is just in all his ways. The most miserly 
of his children can learn from truths of outward nature that 
he is good, and not only good, but that his goodness is tem- 
pered with justice. 

Effects invariably are fruits of causes adequate unto their 
production. No man on earth will expect to receive any 
benefits of an outward nature, save what is justly earned by 
his own labor. 

How then can any man expect to reap happiness supreme in 
heaven, unless he first plant the seed ? Do God's laws stop 
when a man dies ? Every man knows that the sun keeps 
shining, and the stars keep their places in space, even though 
thousands of men perish in a day. Does it then seem likely 
that God's laws change to suit every whim of his children ? 
Let no man flatter himself that he can receive any more than 
he has earned. 

If a man prefer to labor exclusively for his own fleshly 
nature during the term of his animal life, can it be possible 
that such an one can comprehend so many of the bright and 
beautiful spiritual truths as the man who has been true unto 
his highest nature ? To enjoy we must have the capacity of 
enjoyment, and to receive pleasure in heaven we must be able 
to comprehend the pleasure. I conceive that God's truth is 
everywhere, and at all times entirely independent of man. 
And the blind cannot see. They who have no understanding 
of God's wisdom, cannot from it receive happiness. They who 
have loved only their own gain, have no affinity for that pure 
love, within which the righteous children of the Most High 
dwell. 

Should every man have imbedded within him the great 
truth that God is just, and as a consequence he could get only 



206 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

what he earned, our Father would have far more creditable 
workmen. 

On earth the learned have ever built their strongholds upon 
the weakness and ignorance of the unlearned, and the un- 
learned have become believers in the teachers, instead of be- 
lieving in their own high promptings within themselves, and 
this hath built up erroneous ideas of what God is, each leader 
being pleased to have his own god made in his own way. 

Let no man delay or put off his own advancement in wisdom, 
for such advancement is in the eternal line of his progression. 
Let us not look unto God's mercy for our reward, but let us 
merit it at the hand of his justice. Our Father's love is all 
around and in us, but oh, how easy for us to so clog our feel- 
ing with outward things, that we are not susceptible unto its 
sweetness ! And is this not our fault ? It is our duty to seek 
to be pure, and in this seeking we would find the pay. 






CHAPTER XVIII. 



FORGIVING OF SINS— CHILDHOOD— FUTURE WISDOM— GOD'S 

LOVE. 

He who transgresses must receive the fruit of his transgres- 
sion. Yet every man may feel at times that all sins are for- 
given him, and may experience joy in the new freedom. Let 
no man imagine that his being forgiven raises his comprehen- 
sion of wisdom. He who transgresses learns wisdom thereby, 
but it is wisdom void of the love which is necessary unto hap- 
piness. And when the contrite spirit receiveth this love, in 
reward for its contrition, then it surely learns that it has not 
been on the right path. 

The highest wisdom is at least half love. Love supplies the 
feeling, and light the intelligence. When a man feels for- 
given, it is through the love part of wisdom which hath been 
neglected in his daily practice. Light, or intelligence, show- 
eth him wherein he has been in the wrong, and his spirit seeks 
the right path again, which, when found, supplies the balm 
through the neglected love. 

And this is the forgiving of sins. Returning to a purer 
state of existence through the help of divine love. Seek and 
ye shall find. He who earnestly and sincerely strives to raise 
his nature from its degradation unto his highest possible eleva- 
tion, will, as a consequence, raise himself above some of his 
lower passions, and these do seem to be forgiven him. Every 
transgression bringeth its own precise amount of suffering, and 
can bring no more. Love can overcome this suffering, and 
thus is the feeling of forgiveness illustrated. 

Every man is forgiven when his suffering has paid the debt 
of his transgression. This is in perfect harmony with the 
justice of our Father. Sins cannot endure forever, but their 
fruits last long enough to very much retard the bpirit's 
progress. 



208 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Let no man transgress against goodness, which in reality is 
simply transgressing against himself, and yet imagine that 
God will stop all laws, turn his creation into chaos again, in 
order to forgive his sins, and raise him at once above all men 
who have nobly struggled, and fairly earned their just portion 
of His love. 

Surely if our Father forgiveth sins, it would seem that man 
might transgress with impunity. And if there is a standing 
reward for sin, should we not all transgress, in order to receive 
this great gift ? So long as we remain imperfect, we are con- 
stantly liable to come in contact with perfect truth, and if we 
keep our spirit humble, we will learn continually more and 
more of the truth. 

He who sins against his own light hath wounded his spirit, 
and must suffer until the wound be healed. When he be- 
cometh humble enough to acknowledge his error, and knoweth 
within himself that he hath done wrong, and suffereth the keen 
pangs of remorse, the suffering and humility open the channel 
in which love floweth. This divine essence carries healing 
wherever it goeth ; it poureth upon the wound, and it is healed- 
Man transgresses, and works out his own redemption. 

And from all things everywhere he gains wisdom if he strive 
to keep in affinity thereunto. He groweth from the earth- 
born infant unto the just man made perfect, and in all stages 
of his existence truth is around him, and love and light within 
him. He is never alone, for if true unto his highest good, his 
Father walketh beside him. 

Which would seem best for us, to court the influences of 
earth, or strive to merit and comprehend communion with the 
Creator of man ? Have we not often found that there is no 
food on earth which can satisfy our immortal spirit ? And 
have we ever found lasting happiness, when we depended upon 
those things which change and pass away ? 

Were we not so ignorant of all truth relating unto our 
spiritual welfare, we w T ould know that nothing imperfect as 
ourselves could raise us above our imperfection, and would 
depend more upon those truths whose natures never change. 
Did we not court animal enjoyment, our spiritual enjoyment 
would be larger. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 209 

Underneath, and far removed from all outside influence, 
flows the stream of eternal causes. All roots and germs are 
watered thereby. Every plant and tree of earth sendeth a 
root into this living stream, and thus drinks up nourishment 
which time cannot cut off. 

Time, like a huge ax-man, lays the forest low in his path, 
he crumbles rocks and wastes the mountains ; yet, after all, the 
minutest cause is far above his power. Cause produceth, time 
destroyeth. 

That which God constructs is perfect. Within every body 
in space there are perfect laws of government. All outward 
nature moveth in harmony with the divine will. How vast, 
yet how minute, are the works of the Creator ! Thus can we 
reflect, but oh, how small must seem unto Him our highest 
reflections and purest aspirations ! 

Each man hath within himself a refining furnace. He refines 
the earth, and from it draws wisdom. We are placed within 
and on the earth, and from it we draw loads of truths refined 
in our furnace, and then take the load home, each one to his 
Father's house. 

We are a strange combination of all things. Within us are 
powers which are apparently in harmony with cause and all 
eifects thereof. We seem to be the link connecting all things. 
Within our nature are mixed the animal and the spiritual. We 
are great in comparison with all below us, yet all below are 
hanging unto us as so many animal weights, to steady our eter- 
nal flight. 

We are constantly embracing outward truths with our 
inward light, and then lay them away in the storehouse of 
memory for future use. Thus by mingling our spirit with 
earth, and then securing the wisdom resulting from the com- 
bination, we can refine upon the earth greatly to our own 
advantage. 

It seems to be the mission of man thus to spiritualize mat- 
ter, so to speak, and this is his standing place in the creation : 
half-way between God and his outer worlds. Immensely 
greater than matter, and infinitely smaller than his Creator. 
The earth seems formed expressly as the play-ground for 



210 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

all our powers. Mountains rear their huge columns of rock 
to the sky, to help form our ideas of grandeur, to regulate the 
winds of earth, to help us aspire toward the highest possible 
peak, to show us that the higher we get the more extended view 
we have, and in myriad ways help upward. 

Lakes and rivers, and the broad expanse of ocean, show us 
the great beauty of the level, thus admonishing us to keep all 
our powers under complete subjection to the divine will, never 
letting rise the waves of passion, which, in their dashing fury, 
wreck many a heedless bark. Water harmonizes the motions 
of earth. Let us learn to seek the level of our being, that we 
may harmonize with all things. 

We drink and drown in the same element. That which 
quenches our thirst, and sustains our life, will quench the life 
as well, if heedlessly sported with. God's truth is deep and 
silent as the ocean waters. Let man keep in harmony with 
it, and he can float upon its peaceful bosom, but let him come 
in contact with it, and it will dash his frail bark to atoms. 
God's love acteth like unto oil upon the troubled waters, set- 
tling with silent power down over the tempest-tossed, and ren- 
dering all calm and still. 

Our infant powers awake on earth, with wonder and awe 
enveloping them. Our little ignorance has to cope with all 
truth and struggle for mastery. Truth being grand and great, 
being, so to speak, the arm of God, hath nothing to learn of us, 
but we having all to learn from it, we are placed at the begin- 
ning, which is our infancy. 

Even in our smallest capacity we learn, as it were, from 
truths as small as ourselves. We are never so little but that 
some little part of the divine attribute, love, will in infant 
smiles reveal itself. So soon as intelligence sparkles in our 
eye, love looks out also. 

So pure and pleasant are the scenes of childhood that the 
aged man retains within his memory, and feels again the boy- 
ish joy. Long before our spiritual powers are developed we 
reap from the earth most pure enjoyment. What can be purer 
than the joy of the child, when receiving some new and beau- 
tiful gift ? The joy of manhood is never so sweet as that which 
escapes in dimpling smiles from the face of the happy child. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 211 

) 

No : man may discover the gem he hath sought for years, 
he may sit upon the very pinnacle of fame, or may in humility 
sit at the feet of his Maker and commune with him ; but in no 
time, nor in eternity, will he ever again enjoy as when he 
played a careless, thoughtless child. 

Pure trustfulness, perfect confidence, leave us when we leave 
our childhood. Oh could we but grow in wisdom, yet retain 
our innocence ; grow in purity, and yet keep trustful ; grow in 
strength, and yet keep love within us, we would all be children 
of God. 

The time will come when God's children on earth will learn 
wisdom therefrom without transgression. 

There will come a time when love will dwell within the spirit 
of man, even as now it dwells within the spirit of his child. In 
coming ages truth will be discovered, which shall prove even 
unto man's most selfish nature that happiness and love are 
eternally inseparable. And what more than this does earth 
want to make it a perfect paradise ? 

Did man cease laboring for gain, and labor only for love ; 
did he cease toiling to make the earth to be his own, and toil 
to make it beautiful, giving to this his spare time, how differ- 
ent would the earth appear ! 

Could we but believe, in action, that love maketh the spirit 
to rejoice, and without it there is no happiness, we would all 
seek earnestly to obtain the largest power of loving one 
another, and each one would strive to do the most good. 

Man will learn in coming ages that God's goodness will bear 
acting upon. He will learn that he who giveth receiveth. 
Men will rise up and make truth plain. They will be filled 
with love, and it shall flow from them in purity. The time 
will come when man will know himself to be God's only son. 
Yes, man shall yet shake himself free from the errors of a 
perverse inheritance, and stand forth the greatest and noblest 
of God's works. 

He shall need no learning, save that which cometh from 
his affinity for truth. Error shall be cast out of him, and 
intelligence dwell within him. Love shall give him joys that 
endure forever. 



212 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

He shall need no ruler, for his Father will commune with 
him, and his life will be in harmony with the universe. His 
ideas shall expand, brighten, and become beautiful. He shall 
discover new enjoyments in truths that have been known for 
ages. 

He will then look back to what is now present, and see that 
man strove against man for his own selfish downfall. No man 
can raise himself by pushing another down. He will then 
know that had he striven for man's elevation, his progress had 
been far more rapid. 

There are ideas that have lived, and will live forever. "Love 
one another," can never die. So long as man shall breathe, 
that simple sentence shall be known to contain the secret of 
man's social happiness. Love thy Creator, will unto all eter- 
nity be known as 'man's highest duty. Those two ideas are in 
nature eternal. There is nothing in them which can be de- 
stroyed. 

Man shall know that earth is the only place where the rudi- 
mental truths of his being can be learned, and his future wis- 
dom founded. Then he shall have but one master, and need 
but one, for he shall be perfect. His Creator will instruct 
him through those divine attributes which liken him unto his 
source, love, light, and truth. Error being left behind, he 
will journey on toward perfection, free, clear, and strong. Man 
shall then be a noble name in heaven. 

Then shall he become so pure, that he will not burden his 
offspring with any passions which will hinder their heavenward 
progress. His child will never have to leave its innocent state 
and combat the errors of a perverse world, for error shall have 
been rooted from his existence. Each child shall learn those 
truths congenial unto its nature through the pleasant openings 
of divine intelligence. 

It shall not then be necessary to guard against error, and 
hence each one will wear his own nature around him in its own 
transparent beauty. It will not be necessary to raise high 
walls in self-defense of passions and fear composed, for there 
will be nothing to fear, and nothing to struggle against. 

All will push forward toward their own perfection, having 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 213 

no time nor thought to envy or hinder a brother in his prog- 
ress. All shall know that the good of one is not advanced 
by the injury of another, and that each one hath his own 
avenue leading unto happiness, in which none other can walk. 

Is it deemed impossible for man to gain such an high estate? 
Man cannot know in his present all that in his future may 
bless him. Let the wise man contrast his present powers of 
reflection and reasoning with those of his younger days, and 
then let him tell, if he can, what man will be capable of in the 
future ages of the world. Mankind progress as the single 
man, only more slowly. He raises upward, as he is enabled 
to get more and more truth beneath him. 

The comprehension of God's truth and the feeling of His 
love raiseth man gradually and firmly upward. Aspiring after 
high situations amount to nothing, unless the whole soul striveth 
in harmony with the aspiration. 

It seemeth unto me as if our Father did design earth for 
the express purpose of ministering unto man's wants and 
pleasure. But our wants and our pleasure come from the 
manner in which we govern them. We want but little in 
reality, and the less we want the greater is our pleasure. 

To help bring forward the good time of man's redemption 
from error, is every one's duty. And how is it to be done ? 
By acting always in harmony with eternal principles. By lov- 
ing God and one another. There can be no other way. Learn 
man to feel for his Creator some little part of that pure love 
which produced him from nothing, or rather from within Him- 
self. Learn him to love his brother man as himself, and thou 
hast indeed brought forward the reign of love in the spirit of 
man on earth. 

Love God and one another. When love dwelleth within thy 
spirit, happiness is there also. To benefit man, divine attri- 
butes must be used. Unchangeable truths must be revealed 
unto the inward light. Simply practice the promptings of 
love, as revealed within thee. All preaching is but Avords, 
unless lived out in practice of daily life. 

Words contain no happiness of themselves, but when they 
carry feeling of love for another, and when that is on all occa- 



214 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

sions rendered into action, they become witnesses unto our 
truth, and in our favor. 

Love thy Creator above all things else created. Unto him 
thou dost owe all. Thy power of loving thy own offspring, 
and to love thy brother man cometh from within His love for 
thee. All the noble impulses of thy nature are prompted by 
thy little part of His infinite love. Without love thou cannot 
realize any happiness. All thou can learn from outward na- 
ture, or from thy most inward inspiration, will serve to illus- 
trate the power and pleasure of loving. 

Upon the wings of love man is borne heavenward. This 
divine attribute never forsakes him. He may become very 
unworthy, but cannot obliterate God's power of loving him. 
Love must triumph, and its beauty be known. Man cannot 
forever resist his own good, he cannot successfully combat with 
that which his highest nature knows will lead unto his own 
happiness. 

In his present state he has his little self-love arrayed against 
all of God's love, which is in every principle and product of 
the universe. Strange that he will array himself in battle 
against such fearful numbers. As though the little error of 
his nature, or his own self-conceit, could subdue all the powers 
of the combined universe — his own included ! 

Man does not voluntarily maim his own body. He will not 
sever a limb, or pluck out an eye voluntarily ; and yet it were 
wise to do this, when compared with his plucking away his 
power of loving his Father, and striving to blind himself unto 
His light. 

Inasmuch as man hath individuality, he must thereby regu- 
late his own measures. His love for his Father opens the 
channel, in which the Father's love floweth. We must exert 
ourselves in the path of our highest duty, if we would grow in 
wisdom and strength. We must not love blindly, for such love 
bringeth foolish fruit. Let our spiritual eyes be open con- 
tinually, and let us strive to keep them on the light, and the 
light will shine in and through them. 

We cannot truly love our brother, unless we be first quick- 
ened by our Father's love. There is but one love in the uni- 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 215 

verse, and this is God's love. We from Him receive with our 
existence a little germ of this pure essence. We inherit this 
in harmony vcith the same law from and through which we 
inherit from our earthly parents our animal natures and tend- 
encies. 

This inheritance is common unto all men. All have love 
within them- — they cannot exist without it ; then, as this is the 
key unto happiness, why should they sit with closed doors ; 
locking their brethren out, and themselves in? Surely this is 
not the nature of love. 

Let us open our doors, and bid our brethren enter and par- 
take of that which our Father hath given us. Do not fear a 
famine ; the love of God was never yet diminished in quantity 
by distribution, and I cannot believe it ever will be. The more 
of it we bestow the more will we receive, for action in this, as 
well as in all things else relating unto man, enlarges our capa- 
city. Let us, therefore, not be miserly in loving, but rather 
grow rich, by continually giving it away. 

We continually prove in our actions that we have no confi- 
dence in our Father which art in heaven. We may say we 
adore his holy name ; but how hollow the profession, when 
there is no action to give it life ! We profess to love him, and 
to desire to be guided by his counsel, but which of us believe 
our own professions ? Are we not all hypocrites ? Do we not 
put outside of us a bright, clean surface, and strive thus to 
blind our brother unto our great imperfection ? 

And is it possible to elevate mankind, so long as individuals 
are not composed of solid truth ? Surely the onward tread of 
the mighty host will crush below them all the hollowness and 
vanity of man's nature. They cannot stand upon emptiness. 
Solid truth alone can support them. 

As the children of God journey heavenward, each one bear- 
ing his own load of truth, his own power of loving, and his 
own comprehension of wisdom, behold He doth seem to meet 
them as with open arms, and bless them with bountiful hap- 
piness. 

Is it not even so ? As they journey on, do they not more 
and more enlarge their affinity for His purity, and therefore 



216 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

will not this purity journey toward and fill them ? Can we 
attract God's love without receiving it ? No ; merit never yet 
went unrewarded at His hands. 

Let us strive, one and all, to draw heaven down to earth. 
Let us strive to fill our destiny to the utmost extent. 

Could we act in harmony one with another, and one with 
all, and all seek the highest good, how r rapid would be our 
upward progress ! 

Heaven is just so far from us as are we from happiness, and 
unless we labor in the right we are not drawing toward it. 
This is true of one, and, hence, true of all. Therefore, if we 
would enter heaven, let us strive to help a brother in also. This 
is entering heaven — laboring in love. Love stands at the door 
of happiness, and not one can pass whose being is not trans- 
parent unto her gaze. The cloudy spirit hath no room in 
heaven, for heaven hath no shadows ; all within this state dwell 
in purity of happiness. The outside w T e leave upon earth, and 
therefore it is very necessary that the spirit should be clean 
and clear when we depart for our eternal home. 

Let us learn to labor in love while upon earth, for in thus 
laboring we use the tools that are made in heaven, and will 
work much handier when we get there. And let us strive to 
handle those tools expertly, for then, perhaps, we may become 
a master workman in purity, and learn the designs of our 
Master, and be trusted to execute them. 

While learning thus we are gaining an eternity, as it were, 
for in time we handle eternal virtues, and become familiar 
with their operation, thus shortening time by drawing heaven 
into it. 






CHAPTER XIX. 

NEARNESS OF HEAVEN— GOD'S WISDOM AND MAN'S, AND 
THE WISDOM OF ANIMALS— WORSHIP— THE SOUL OF 
MAN GOD'S ONLY TEMPLE ON EARTH— FEAR— SELF- 
DEFENSE. 

Heaven is not afar off, neither our Father which art in 
heaven. But, since all things are regulated in divine wisdom, 
must we not comprehend some of that wisdom before we can 
know of being in heaven, or near Him ? And can we not gain 
this intelligence on earth ? Surely we have felt happiness, 
even to the full extent of our present capacity, and have thus 
been in heaven to a certain extent. 

It is very wrong to be continually separating heaven and 
earth. Our Father hath not separated them. Man's spirit, 
which is the highest existence connected with earth, receives 
happiness from its connection therewith, hereby proving that 
the earth is good, and its fruit good for man. 

If man cannot receive happiness while in earth, I have no 
confidence that he will ever receive it. I do not believe God 
will ever be more good than in the present, and as we are con- 
tinually in his presence, we must, if true unto our highest good, 
receive from Him as much as at any time in our existence. We 
will not perhaps hold so much, but we can be as full as though 
we were much larger. 

Mankind learn very slowly. It takes years, and almost ages, 
to get an idea firmly established among them, even though the 
idea may be fraught with all that can aid man on toward per- 
fection. 

Truth is very unforgiving. Man must bend before it like a 
reed in the wind, or else break. He was placed at the begin- 
ning. Truth towers above him like a huge mountain, and he 
trembles, and dreads the task of ascending. To look at the 
summit, and then reflect upon his own weakness, is indeed very 
15 



218 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

discouraging. The bold projecting surface, almost perpen- 
dicular, givcth but poor encouragement when gazed upon. 
Who can go straight up in anything ? It is not man's nature 
to go in a straight line, perhaps because that is the nearest 
path, and tread only by perfection. 

In the outward, when we desire to gain the top of a precipi- 
tous rock, we pick out a circuitous path and seek sure foot- 
holds, even though our ascent may seem small. We may go 
farther, and still gradually ascend. And to harmonize the 
outward with the inward, when we desire to know some great 
truth, that is, to get it firmly within our individuality, and 
cannot get immediately to the top of it, let us hunt an ascend- 
ing path which may by a spiral line bring us up to the highest 
point. And thus we shall have gained far more than if we 
could have scaled its bold front, for we will have been round 
on all sides of it, and have learned its connection with other 
truths, perhaps as important as itself. 

This makes man's progress slow. He must have all solid 
beneath him. There is no such thing as theoretical or abstract 
progression, it is all practical, composed of solid, eternal blocks 
of truth. No man can theorize himself into any, save an 
abstract heaven. If he get there it must be through good 
works. The tongue dies with the body, and the words thereof 
live not, unless they contain or illustrate truth. 

Thus I go on reflecting upon the attributes of Divinity, and 
continually hover around one idea, contained in the simple 
words, God is good. This, like an inspiring center, aids with 
its light my every thought. I seem to see so clearly wherein 
man has gone astray. He has exalted his own weak nature 
above the highest. Hath sought wisdom for the fame it 
brought, thus disabling his better nature so much that he can- 
not receive it. Wisdom first reveals the goodness of God. We 
can thus test all ideas extant in the world ; do they illustrate 
God's goodness ? And if they do not, they cannot benefit man 
permanently. 

He who turns aside from the truth, or striveth to pervert 
the truth unto his own impure purposes, destroyeth his affinity 
therefor, and cannot endure to the end. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 219 

Of ourselves we can do nothing, for of ourselves we are 
nothing but examples of the Creator's goodness. It is him 
within us that knoweth and doeth all things elevating. Yet, 
in our little pride and strength, we do strive to cast him out, 
in order to run riot in wild passions. We know nothing but 
what we learn from his truth, jet we acknowledge him not, 
but rather strive to weaken his influence by collecting for our 
own praise what he hath made free unto all his children. 

The great difference between the wisdom of God and that 
emanating from man's brain is this : God's wisdom at all times 
and in all places illustrates his goodness, for it is as a fruit 
grown therefrom ; while the -wisdom of man groweth from his 
own brain, and revealeth only the capacity of the brain ; — and 
by their fruits shall ye know them. The one is universal in 
its application, and boundless in its illustration ; the other is 
measured by each and every superior intellect on earth. 

Now what man, believing this, would hesitate which of the 
two to choose ? How can we know them apart ? Let us try 
all things well, and those truths which are of largest applica- 
tion are always nearest God's perfection. So long as we 
can see no error, we may accept all as truth, bearing in 
mind continually our imperfection. Thus we can learn more 
and more, and, as our comprehension expands, so will our 
wisdom. 

Oh God, enlighten thy children. Learn us to do only such 
things as shall enlarge our understanding. Make us to be 
obedient and good, even though it be through suffering. Let 
all we do be done in thy name. Give us strength. Let thy 
light descend upon us, and thy love dwell within us, that we 
may become continually more like unto thee. 

Thou art life and light and love, while we are but shadows 
of thy greatness. Of thee Ave can know each our own little 
part. Yet, this being known, however little it may seem, is 
worth more than all the earth can give. 

It is eternal wisdom. To know and feel one truth, or the 
least part of truth, is proof of manhood. It is proof that man 
is heir unto the kingdom of heaven. 

Animal nature doth not progress. There is a distinct line 



220 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

dividing spirit from matter. Truths emanating from man's 
brain are eternal in precise proportion unto their spirituality. 

The spirit being in harmony with its source, can eternally 
increase in wisdom, because its source containeth all wisdom. 

The natural animal being in harmony with the outward 
world, is subject to all the changes of nature, but is not capa- 
ble of leaving the earth. 

Every animal has its happiness, and its happiness consists 
in having no consciousness of its annihilation. Every spirit 
has its happiness, which consists in its consciousness of an eter- 
nal individual existence. 

The unconsciousness of the animal creation is almost as 
much proof of God's goodness, as is the consciousness of the 
spirits of his children. They live and die, and their place is 
taken by others of the same species. Man liveth, and the ani- 
mal man dies, but his spirit liveth forever. 

See how good is God ! Did the horse know that his enjoy- 
ment ceased with a few years on earth, he would have no hap- 
piness at all. The end would be continually with him, and in 
annihilation of his present. 

And, inasmuch as man can conceive of no order of beings 
as far above him as he is above the animal, let us hope that 
each and every animal vieweth itself as the highest on earth. 

God, in his infinite perfection and wisdom, may have seen 
fit to create numberless orders of beings, ascending toward his 
perfection, each order having no connection with any other, 
save in the all-pervading essence of divine love, each happy 
to its fullest extent, and happier still that it knows no more 
beyond. 

Such beings could, perhaps, view man in the same light as 
man vieweth the noble horse, as a noble animal, happy in his 
ignorant enjoyment. 

There is no greater ornament to man than humility. The 
wise man cannot but be conscious of his own ability, but if 
truly wise, he knoweth himself so very ignorant of all truth 
that he puts on the cloak of humility. 

Be humble and upright. If thy spirit riseth in anger, be 
still. God did not design the ocean to be always calm, for it 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 221 

would poison the earth. Neither did he design the spirit of 
man to be always tranquil. But oh, let us, when most 
tossed and troubled, always remember him and his goodness 
and our own littleness, and earnestly seek to be humble before 
him. 

We have no need of any but him, our. Father who art in 
heaven. All outward wants are supplied in the abundance of 
that which he hath created. All inward yearnings are created 
by him, and by him supplied with food. 

Man, in his great weakness, hath set up numberless false 
gods. Some worship books, some creeds, and others worship 
men. They clothe these gods with imaginary divinity, and 
then fall down and worship, which is truly worshiping that 
below them, and is debasing in tendency. 

Every man must worship his own highest idea of God, or 
must worship what he believes God, which to him, and in him, 
is his own elevated imao-e of that Divine One who created him. 

So soon as imperfection worships anything but perfection, 
then does it become still more imperfect. And when we hum- 
bly worship perfection, we approach unto it. 

Inasmuch as man cannot conceive of any higher being, save 
one, unto this being let all our aspirations rise. 

Let us seek to worship that God, whose light revealeth truth 
within our spirit, whose love cements peace unto our soul, and 
whose presence is divinely sweet. We have no need to be 
deceived. There are feelings which flesh and blood cannot 
produce, neither can take away. There is a joy which the 
outward only knoweth, as nature knoweth when the sun shines, 
or the dews fall, by the refreshing power, the quickening into 
life, and the renewing of all its parts. 

Such joy, such happiness cannot be bought and sold. It is 
not to be distributed. It cometh from one, and unto one it 
bringeth peace. It is a bond of union, sacred from the touch 
or voice of flesh. The soul can understand it, but cannot make 
it understood. 

It cannot be divided. The peace of the soul is one, and the 
offspring of One. Oh, this is our staff to lean upon, this Com- 
forter within our own habitation, this revealed light of God's 



222 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

love within our own spirit. This giveth the feeling and the 
understanding which createth happiness. 

Who that hath felt this can worship upon an altar made of 
stone ? Who can debase himself by worshiping man, or aught 
produced by man ? Oh, it is the work of God's hand that is 
perfect and worthy of all adoration, and that only. Hemaketh 
no images, but revealeth truth. His temple on earth is the 
soul of man, and therein alone is he revealed. We cannot 
know him, for he is perfect, but oh we can each and every one 
know some little of the joy his presence giveth, which is above 
all we can receive from all else combined. 

When man feeleth the joy of the holy spirit, he can tell of 
it, but can never tell it. His spirit will rejoice and strive to 
impart the joy, but it cannot be done. This is God's best gift 
unto man, and it cannot be given unto another. 

Neither can it be received of another. It is the knowledge 
of the great goodness of God that hath raised men up in all 
ages of the world to proclaim his truth. That feeling which 
dwelleth within the soul, giving evidence of the divine presence, 
hath made man bold and fearless in the truth. He who know- 
eth himself to be immortal, and capable of receiving divine 
visitations, which the world knoweth not of, hath no fear of 
the world. 

It is the action of the flesh upon the spirit which produceth 
fear. The spirit knoweth no fear when left in harmony with 
its Maker. It hath consciousness of its own eternal nature 
and its own connection with the Creator, and hath nothing to 
dread. 

Does the little child fear its parents ? Then why should 
the children of larger growth fear their eternal parent ? Fear 
is unworthy a true manhood. It belongs to the animal nature. 
Love giveth a trusting spirit strength and a confidence in its 
sufficiency, for love is no coward. 

Those who lose confidence in love become the slaves of fear. 
Thus he who teaches, or attempts to teach his brethren the 
will of God toward them, if he love them not sincerely, always 
attempts to frighten them into heaven, by holding up to their 
view the awful wrath of a God of vengeance. 






THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 223 

As fruit of such teaching, the fear of God's wrath supplants 
the natural love of God in the soul. And as fear riseth in the 
soul, in the same proportion will rise the tendency to exercise 
self-defense. A diseased self-defense causeth all strife, con- 
tention, and war on the earth. 

This fear of God, and, consequently, fear of man, and all 
things else, hath so enveloped man, that he hath come to think 
that it is just and proper to defend himself against a brother. 
Know, oh man, thou hast naught worth defending, save thy 
own spirit, and no spirit of man can harm that. 

If man were merely an animal, then self-defense would be 
among the first laws of his nature. The simple truth that 
God did breathe into man the breath of life eternal, places him 
above all necessity for defense. Yes, man, while thou dost 
breathe God's pure breath, and while thou canst feel the 
promptings of love within thee, thou will never have need of 
carnal words or weapons to defend thee. 

Self-defense may be the first law of the animal and outward 
nature, but "Love one another" is the inward and spiritual 
bond of union one with another, and each and all with God. 

Love of life in the outward man will, in time, be supplanted 
by the love of the eternal life within, and thus it might be said 
that man will come to know in future ages ,that death is an 
angel of God. 

Holding up the idea of God being wrathful, and given to 
vengeance, has peopled space with a host of vengeance-dealers 
— instruments that are necessary unto the execution of the 
vengeance. These hideous vermin of the heavens are hatched 
in the brain of man ; there they have their home, and there 
they dwell. Fear, or want of love to God, created and does 
nourish them. 

Perhaps it is well for man to fear his dissolution, until he 
has wisdom sufficient to see beyond it, and to defend his natu- 
ral life until he has confidence in his spiritual life. But, to 
debase the nature of man, until he feareth the creation of his 
own diseased brain, is surely beneath the labor of any one God 
hath created. 

Devils and hells belong to those who know not God, and, 



224 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

hence, have no confidence in his goodness. They are the in- 
struments fear uses to drive the children of God away from 
him, for no man fearing God can truly love him, and therefore 
cannot truly dwell near him. 

Let no man fear God. Do the good man's children fear 
him ? Then how very unnatural to live in fear of the author 
of all our good and pure enjoyment ! If we fear God, whom 
shall we love ? If we cannot approach him in confidence, de- 
pending upon the all-sufficiency of his pure love, and, dwelling 
within the wisdom his light revealeth, at times commune with 
him in holy sweetness, what then is man, and wherein is his 
nobility ? 

Does the noble and godlike man inspire fear ? nay, verily. 
It is natural to man to love all things noble.' God did implant 
in the spirit of man a natural pride, which, if heeded, will raise 
him above all mean and unworthy actions. 

The good man loveth his Father in heaven, and listens for 
his counsel. He waits for the manifestation of his will. 
Tasks are borne and w^orks are done without one particle of 
fear. 

Love cannot dwell in temples fear hath builded. God hath 
created nothing that the spirit of man has cause to fear, save 
its own power of perverting that which he hath entrusted 
unto it. 

Oh Father, let thy love descend unto each and every one of 
thy children, that in its purity of feeling they may become 
bold and fearless in the truth. Oh, could man comprehend the 
beauty of an independent manhood, and his own power of in- 
spiration, could he realize the fullness of the love his Father 
bestoweth upon him, earth would no longer be separate from 
heaven. 

How little do we really know ! Yet he who has felt God's 
goodness has knowledge which cannot be taken away, for the 
feeling cometh from the goodness which is perfect. 

God's love is infinite and perfect. Our love is as a germ or 
diamond, concentrating our individual part of its perfection, 
and afterward giving out unto others in looks and tones some 
of our own collecting. 



s 
THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 225 

Now, if the diamond be not purely polished, light cannot 
penetrate its surface ; and, if within it, the light cannot get 
out. And as light is the avenue through which love travels, 
it becometh our duty to keep clear and clean. 

When the love of God in its purity penetrates our soul, we 
do indeed fill with light, even as the diamond. And in our 
fullness we send out with every tone and every glance of the 
eye some of our rich light of love. 

What eye so lovely as that through which love looketh ? 
Who can counterfeit the light of that eye whose love liveth ? 
The one who trusts implicitly in God's love and his wisdom for 
guidance, cannot commit any serious error. They may at 
times seem to err, and indeed may err, but those eternal attri- 
butes, in whose favor they strive to act, drop all such errors 
upon the outer shores of time. 

Man cannot err while honestly striving to do God's will. 

All error is comparative, even equal unto man's progression ; 
all truth perfect, even equal unto God's perfection. Then 
shall man extract from his own errors wisdom which will unto 
him reveal the perfection of God's love. 

Man cannot commit sin which shall annihilate Love. 

God is eternal. What is man ? Oh, how we measure unto 
perfection our own littleness ! What can I do ? Only thank 
God humbly that I exist. I know nothing, and am nothing, 
save as quickened by his light and love. And when within 
the light shineth brightly in all the richness of its holy 
fountain, who can tell it? Who so pure as to reflect unto 
outer men and worlds the divine spirit, as it looketh into the 
soul? 

God can be known and felt. The spirit of man can know, 
and doth know at seasons, that the power which gave it being 
hath looked in smiles upon it. The spirit of man is prompted 
at times and seasons to do and to leave undone those things 
which Deity willeth. Call inspiration by what name we will, 
God is still a loving Father, and through the channel of his 
own light can and will send down his love unto man. 

God is infinite in wisdom. That wisdom which we receive 
from him endureth forever. And as love is felt, but never 



226 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

fully revealed, so is it with wisdom. God retaineth unto him- 
self man's highest and holiest part, a part even of Himself. 

As the animal man imparts some of his life unto his child, 
even so does our spiritual Father, God, impart unto us some 
little of His own perfect spirit. 

This connection with Deity is the only obstacle unto man's 
free agency. A perfectly free man cannot exist. But, inas- 
much as God is eternally perfect in wisdom and love, man's 
connection with him must continually enlarge his freedom. 

Thus being bound unto God by the spiritual bond of union, 
instead of depressing man's nature, in reality elevates it far 
above all it could otherwise attain. 

God alone is free. He alone is above all care and conse- 
quences. This we can know from the truth that we are weighed 
down at times through our own imperfections — hence perfec- 
tion cannot be the same. 

Above all things God hath created, stands the upright spirit 
of his child. Independent of all, save its source. It prompts 
to high and holy thoughts, guides to good actions, and offers 
unto its Creator the only acceptable worship. 

No man can worship God, save he who has knowledge of 
His goodness. No man can worship God without being first 
prompted thereunto by a consciousness within him that his 
Father is near. 

His ways are perfect and his promptings pure. He dwelleth 
within, and His worship is within. No man communeth with 
God openly. God is silent and still in his ways. 



CHAPTER XX. 

DIVINE INSPIRATION— THE SON OF GOD— THE WORD OF 
GOD— LABOR, 

Man's spirit does not worship God as the hurricane, or as 
the rushing and foaming waters, or the howling of beasts. His 
spirit singeth in silence. His tones are love, and his words 
are unheard wisdom. Light revealeth all. And when God 
looks into thy house, behold the light illuminates every win- 
dow, and those without see thee beautiful, and all thou seest 
without is beautiful. 

This is the perfect vision. There is no deceit when God's 
light revealeth. Seek thou this light. It is above all, be- 
yond all, around all, and in all, for it is in thee, revealing the 
divinity of all things. Seek it not without. God pleaseth 
thee, as an intelligent animal, with the beautiful and good 
things of the outer world, but, as His child, he giveth thee 
joy in communing with thee in the secret cells of thy own 
spirit. 

Yes, oh man, it is even so. Say and do as we will, we can- 
not reduce God or his truths to rules and forms. He maketh 
rules and forms himself; but who, save himself, knoweth them ? 
He acteth unto each spirit as unto him seemeth best. When 
form corneth love goeth. 

The spirit being part of God, hath part of his perfect free- 
dom, and animals do not worship God. Let us receive him in 
the way of his coming. 

We cannot appoint a time and place to meet him. We can- 
not measure his wisdom. We cannot control his light. We 
cannot feel his love while burdened with a formal worship. He 
cometh as the lightning, revealing instantly what had been so 
dark before. And when he goeth we stumble again. 

God's wisdom revealeth man's ignorance. 

Every man can be directly and divinely inspired. God's 



228 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

children are almost numberless, and his power unlimited. 
Through them all shineth the divine light. Blessed art thou 
who knoweth when it shineth within thee. 

We cannot command, nor can we retain any of God's best 
gifts. They come with him, and with him go. We wonder 
at times if we ever were happy, and, when happy, we wonder 
how we could be unhappy. We stumble onward and upward, 
gradually getting wisdom. Our progress, however slow, can 
be perfectly secure. Better know one truth than guess at a 
thousand. 

To know a truth is to feel its force and eternal nature. 
When thou knowest a truth, thou hast taken one step toward 
perfection. Truth is God's word. Every truth he showeth 
unto the spirit of man is carried in light. He who receiveth 
a truth from the divine source of truth, beholds it illuminating 
his mind, much as the outer eye beholds the lightning flashing 
through the cloudy darkness. 

The mind of man, when thus illuminated, receives a truth, 
or some little part of divine wisdom. This may act as a center 
for a large class of truths congenial unto the mind thus illumi- 
nated, and around this center will revolve ideas which give 
happiness unto the mind. 

Divine wisdom is perfect. Thus he who receives a truth by 
the inspiring presence of Deity, receiveth not only wisdom, 
but also the feeling of wisdom, which is love. Even as the 
little child receiveth love and instruction from its earthly pa- 
rent, even so when grown to maturity can it receive from its 
heavenly parent happiness in wisdom. 

Knowledge, devoid of God's love, is not worth having. 

Man's earthly life is short, and his capacity for receiving 
wisdom very limited, and yet every man really knows far more 
than he thinks. The truths of his every-day life become im- 
bedded in him silently and effectually. The time taken in 
profession is all wasted. The air wafteth words away, but feel- 
ings and their effects endure forever. 

It is the feeling of truth that giveth evidence of its purity. 
Man is guarded well. So long as true unto his own inner light 
of truth, he cannot be deceived, nor can he be led astray. He 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 229 

need not trust the mouth of man. He hath no guide, save 
God, within him. 

To my understanding this is rendered plain. Man must, 
through favors given him directly by his Heavenly Father, 
work out his own elevation toward perfection. There is no 
other way worthy of an independent manhood. The son of 
God is every child which inherits His spirit. He favors none, ' 
for he is just. Blessed is the open spirit, for God's light 
shineth within it. Blessed is man, for he inherits divinity. 

Then should man act and be worthy of his high destiny. 
There are none above him but his Father. All below are fruits 
of truth illustrating wisdom. Love is felt by all, all are full ; 
but in thy spirit, oh man, alone shineth the divine light, reveal- 
ing higher truth and purer love than aught else in existence. 

Yes, in thee alone the divine spirit is known. It giveth 
consciousness, knowledge of right and wrong, and faith in thy 
own immortality. Trust unto its teaching, and thou will never 
fall. 

The only word of God is revealed within thee. He speak- 
eth unto none save his child in spirit, and his word is living 
truth. Be not deceived. Guard every avenue leading into 
thy soul. Thou cannot shut out God or his word — that would 
require powers above those of God, and such powers do not 
exist ; but all else, every created being in the whole universe, 
must stand aside at thy command. 

Thou art God's child. Let no fear or favor gain thy affec- 
tion away from him. Thou can learn more from him in one 
instant than thou can without him in a thousand years. The 
end and aim of all wisdom is happiness, and happiness is 
heaven, and he ruleth over heaven. 

The divine word revealeth living wisdom. The spirit from 
it receiveth life anew. It groweth in truth and righteousness 
strong and steadfast. When empty it thirsteth, and when full 
it is thankful. As light quickeneth the spirit of man, wisdom 
springs up and enlightens the mind. 

Pure wisdom, or that knowledge which it pleaseth God to 
reveal within the spirit of man, is not produced by man's 
brain. An idea or a truth is thrown upon the spirit by a flash 



230 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

of divine light, and is instantly known to be part of the divine 
life by the feeling of supreme happiness it bringeth. After 
this is known by feeling, the mind takes the idea and analyzes 
it, reasons over it, and, finding no weak point, places it away 
among the lasting treasure of truth. 

Reason cannot stop the inspeaking word of God. All reason 
can do is to substantiate by outward proof. The spirit never 
reasons with Deity. The word is truth, instantly known and 
comprehended. God useth no unknown tongue. Our being 
is wonderful. We are like unto a transparent spring. When 
our Father looketh in, the waters are sparkling and bright, all 
living in beauty. And when we see not his face, all is cloudy 
and dark. 

Man continually gaineth wisdom in darkness and in light. 
He that seeks shall find, no matter when or where he seeks. 

The divine light within reveals his own darkness. The 
highest and holiest wisdom descends in a direct line of living 
light from the one we believe to be God into our spirit. This 
is the purest pathway of truth, of love, and of happiness. 
When God opens the door, none can shut, and when he shuts, 
no one can open. 

It is well to say light descends, for inasmuch as our Father 
is perfect, and we so imperfect, we must be far below, or far 
less in power and capacity than he. 

The time will come v>hen man will know of a truth that he 
is indeed the son of God, and that happiness or heaven is his 
by right of inheritance, and he will need no help and accept 
no guide unto Deity. God's only earthly temple is in the 
child he loveth. In that temple he dwelleth. Worship him 
there. When he maketh thee to be happy, let humility of 
spirit thank him. No man so wise as he that knoweth his 
own weakness. No man so foolish as he that thinketh him- 
self wise. 

The utmost comprehension of the earthly mind of man is 
unto Deity's wisdom, as is the atom unto the universe. Surely 
no man can in a few years learn much of the eternal truth. 
We get glances at bright and lovely truths, or have feelings 
which emanate from love, that render us happy, and we are in 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 231 

an ecstasy of atomic joy, and, if not too much elated, thank 
God for our feelings and wisdom ! Oh man, remember hu- 
mility always. 

How God createth, and why he createth, himself knoweth. 
Why he created man we do not know. Of what use the uni- 
verse is unto him we do not know. Of what use we are unto 
him or his creation we cannot tell. Of thee, our Father, we 
know nothing, save as thou art pleased to teach, and no other 
knowledge endureth. 

Without a consciousness within us that the Creator is near, 
we become all animal, all death. There is no eternal where 
God is not. He is everywhere. But what matter where he is 
to him that knows it not ? The spirit of man liveth forever, 
but what is life without the feeling of love and the light of 
wisdom ? Surely unto man it would be annihilation. 

The spirit of man is the only separate individual existence 
God hath created. This can be known by man. To be sepa- 
rate and distinct from the world, man requires to be the son of 
God. The animal man is in harmony with the earth, and 
governed by material laws, or outward truths. The spirit of 
man dwelleth in his animal nature, as God dwelleth in the 
spirit. The spirit is His earthly temple, and the brain is the 
temple of the spirit. 

The earth seeketh unto the earth, and the spirit unto Deity. 
Man's spirit being derived from God, and being thus part of 
his great perfection, being in nature eternally progressive, as 
proven by his own experience, being so imperfect, yet only 
limited by perfection, there can be no other separate existence, 
save God, in the universe. 

All save the spirit of man, and his Father, have truths, or 
laws, regulating them in such manner as is good. 

The spirit of man has but one law, which is the will of God. 
All its actions are governed by and center in the divine will. 
At conception the spirit enters the earthly temple, and hence- 
forth and forever it is a separate and distinct child of God. 
Man giveth the animal, and God giveth the spirit. The spirit 
and animal united make the child, which liveth forever. In- 
dividuality in man is eternal. 



232 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

God having given man of his spirit, and having given him 
in nature eternal progression, there can be no room for any 
other species of such exalted powers. 

What God can do man cannot say. We can only reason 
from our own comprehension of truth, hoping and praying we 
are right, and, if sincere, we cannot be in the wrong, so far as 
ourselves are concerned. 

We are the highest in affinity with earth. But, inasmuch 
as this little earth is only an atom, when compared with the 
myriad bodies floating in space, and inasmuch as our brains 
are earthly — an atomic emanation from an atom — let us not 
think ourselves of much importance. 

If God, in his all-bounding love, doth bestow upon us some 
little of his pure wisdom, let us rejoice in the gift. Let us be 
humble but fearless. Let us search fearlessly in the heavens 
and in the earth for all that can increase our knowledge. 
There is one bright point, one bright spark in every man, the 
light of God's spirit. 

Do not cramp thyself with any received or rejected opinions. 
Man does not create truth. Perfect truth has not room in 
man, for it is boundless. Behold the order and harmony of 
nature, it is regulated by perfect wisdom, it does not progress, 
it revolves eternally in a limited circle within the unlimited. 

How clear our perceptions, and how sweet our happiness in 
the moments when our Father is near ! Our whole being rises 
up in song, as the freed bird soareth heavenward. The earth 
becometh lovely, cares vanish, errors recede into chaos. God's 
light shineth in the soul, and in his light all is revealed good- 
ness. 

Thus are they formed. We vibrate between light and dark- 
ness, between happiness and misery, between heaven and earth. 
When our little being is full of light, we exclaim, oh, how good 
is God ! when in darkness, we fear and stumble. 

God did form us for a great and noble purpose. We are his 
servants. We serve him and he serveth us. There is a line 
of labor fitted unto every child. In this path each one findeth 
labor sufficient, light sufficient, and love sufficient. God 
maketh order. It is implanted in all ^things in their creation. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 233 

Man maketh disorder only when he steps out of his own path- 
way. 

Our greatest freedom and our greatest happiness come from 
each one doing what each one believeth right, without dicta- 
tion and without compromise. Have faith in God's goodness. 
Proclaim what he prompts within thee, the consequences are 
his. 

There are men to plow, men to sow, and men to gather in. 
The master selects the tools for each servant. Whatsoever he 
selects for thee it would be well to do. Remember this always 
— thou need never move while in doubt. If thy duty is not 
rendered plain by the shining of the divine light, be thou still. 
Better stand still, knowing thou art right, than be ever so 
active, knowing thou art wrong. 

Fear not there is nothing thou can do. Thou wert fash- 
ioned by an all-wise being. He united labor in happiness, in 
wisdom, in love. Thou cannot be wise or happy without it. 

Our Father doeth good continually. He doeth it, by Him 
it is done. Surely if he set us an example in labor, should we 
not follow? Man's spirit can do good in loving, and in ex- 
pressions of love. His hands can do good by carrying out the 
promptings of the spirit. 

In the present state of man's progress his hands must labor, 
or his body must labor to supply his bodily wants. Each ani- 
mal seeks its own living, and the animal man has better health 
when continually employed. Animals can take from one 
another by superior force food which is taken, or they can 
destroy one another. 

The spirit which receives its food from Deity cannot be mo- 
lested in the enjoyment thereof. There is no force applied 
unto the spirit. Love draws it gently by soothing. Light 
reveals its pathway, and it walks in unto a feast of happiness. 
No one who requireth force hath affinity for heavenly happi- 
ness. Fear is an animal force. He who seeketh God from 
fear will have to wait his coming. Do thy labor in love that 
it may exalt thee. 

Thy spiritual knowledge, the wisdom extracted from thy 
humble communion with thy heavenly Father, is imperishable. 
16 



234 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

No spirit can take it away, no man rob thee of His gifts. In 
the things relating unto thy spiritual life no man can, without 
thy consent, interfere. 

Be thou God's child. Seek him daily. Wait for his coming. 
Be not hypocritical. Think not to deceive perfect wisdom. 
Deal with him in candor, and he will deal with thee in love. 
Be honest, for he is just. Be simple, for he is great. Be 
humble, for unto him thou art very erring. 

Believe, oh man, that His love is infinite. He hath no 
wrath. He feeleth no vengeance. He destroyeth not. Do 
not fear him. All thou art, all thou can be, came from him in 
thy existence. If thou would worship him, set up no form, and 
say unto him, " Lord, enter thou into my tent, and accept my 
worship ;" rather clean thy tent, purge thy spirit of all unholy 
desires, and thy purity will attract him. 

Thou art, and therefore will be. Why should thou waste 
thy time, the beginning of eternity, in fruitless searches. Stay 
at home. God is not afar off. He is ever near, at all times 
within hearing of thy spirit. Dost thy spirit speak ? Dost 
thou ever hear its voice ? Its voice is silent, its language pure. 
Thy highest emotions, and thy purest love cannot be expressed, 
save unto thy Father, for he alone comprehends thy inner 
voice, even as thou dost comprehend his. 

Thy spiritual language is the one learned in purity of Him. 
He teacheth the spirit those pure expressions of love and wis- 
dom which the outer air cannot carry. The purest language 
doth never vibrate in air. The inner promptings, the inner 
feelings of holiness, the inner calls of the Father may shake 
the frame of man to its center, but no ear heareth them. 

The spiritual existence differs from the earthly existence in 
this manner. God's truth is spiritually manifested after death 
of the body, and before death every truth man can learn hath 
some emblem or illustration in the outward. And as man 
gradually refineth in being as he progresses in eternal wisdom, 
the shadows and shades of truth gradually fade away, until in 
his grand fullness all truth is seen in the clearness of the 
divine atmosphere of Deity. 

On earth every truth seems shaded to suit every compre- 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 235 

hension, yet unto the truth there is no shade, no, oh man, in 
thee is the shadow. Every truth is bright as eternal day. 
Thou art in the first day of existence, and death is the first 
night. Believe that a morning cometh, whose glory surpass- 
eth the brightest day, even as it surpasseth the darkest night. 

Yes, man in flesh cannot conceive of his true nobility. , He 
hath eyes which blind him, ears which hear not, and tongue 
which speaketh dumb things. But oh! we have entered in, 
and turn as we will we must learn more and more of that 
which will some time elevate us toward perfection. 

There is no obstacle unto perfect wisdom. As we enter 
upon the second day of our existence we must learn, of higher 
and holier feelings, the purer effects of enlarged truths. For 
as we grow so doth grow our comprehension and enjoyment of 
truth. All happiness is the effect of understanding truth, for 
all love is embodied in truth. 

Perfect light revealeth perfect wisdom. When our spiritual 
eyes are fully opened we shall see much clearer. The shades 
of truth will be removed, and we will behold them much clearer 
than when surrounded by shadows. Yet we must not expect 
that casting off our body will free us entirely from the earth ; 
far from it. While on the earth we gather earthly truths, 
emblems, symbols, and illustrating examples of truth, and of 
these we retain parts which fit us, and store them away for 
future use. 

Memory never dies, for it is a truth, comprehending and 
retaining parts of truth, and therefore eternal in its nature. 
Our memory is our own, for who else can use it ? And thus 
through our memory we hold fast unto earthly truths. 

God's goodness on earth is as holy as in heaven. Heaven 
or happiness is everywhere that love is felt. His love is per- 
fect on earth, waiting for man to partake. He forceth no one. 
Partake, oh man ! drink freely, for the draught createth eter- 
nal thirst. Drink deep of happiness, for thou art in his house. 
He buildeth thee a tenement of earth, and it is good for thy 
abiding place one day and one night only. In the morning 
thou shalt arise and go unto him. Take with thee the fruits 
of thy labor, for he gave thee tools with which to work. 



236 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

The fruits are thine, and the tools are of no farther use unto 
thee forever. New powers, brighter visions, and greater un- 
derstanding are thine in heaven. But the earthly fruits thou 
hast gathered are effects of eternal love comprehended by thee, 
and therefore eternal good unto thy being. 

Do not expect too much. Thou art now in the presence of 
Jehovah, the great Creator, dost thou comprehend ? Verily, 
we reduce the Creator unto our stature, else we see him not. 

In the second day of our existence there shall be no rest 
required. The truths learned will contain no fatigue. God 
hath endowed man with visions on earth, but his eye tireth, for 
it is flesh. The spiritual eye is illuminated by the divine 
light, and never requireth rest. It is the load we carry on 
earth that renders us weary. The body is between the spirit 
and the understanding of truth. We take into heaven, the 
second day of our being, a divine earth, which is our earthly 
wisdom illuminated by the divine light. 

This earth revolves in the eternal sun, but there is no night. 
Transgression is man's night. Darkness covers his deep, and 
there is nothing pure on earth. But the morning cometh, and 
man ariseth in the heaven of eternal light, rejoicing in wisdom 
and strength and purity. Death is not a furnace ; it is God's 
light which refineth. 

The divine love surpasseth the comprehension of man. Let 
no man leave his house until his Father calls. Cast not from 
thee thy earth and its cares, oh spirit of man ! for it is at 
present thy highest good. 

When thou leavest the earth, let it be in the end of the day, 
and let thee be weary with much labor. Oh understand and 
believe that thou art on the earth and in the earth, because 
God in his great wisdom and love did thus create thee, and he 
did thus create thee for thy own happiness. 

Unite high and holy thoughts with thy daily labor. Oh 
remember that thy body requireth only healthy exercise while 
thou art in it, but thy spirit requireth unto the end ever more 
and more of pure love and wisdom. 

The earth is the vineyard of thy Father. Thy body is the 
staff around which the vine of thy spirit clingeth while it is 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 237 

bearing the truths of its earthly existence. If the staff break 
or bend, the vine suffers. Therefore keep the body strong in 
health that it shall be a good servant. 

As light is unto the vine, so is the divine light unto thy 
spirit. And as the outward light did make the earth to be fit 
for thy body, so doth the inward light make thy spirit fit for 
the enjoyment of true happiness. 

Happiness on earth is partly derived from the body, and 
hence, as all of earth hath its night, earthly happiness is never 
pure. Cultivate the earth, and its fruits shall repay thee ; this 
is true of thy body and brain also. 



CHAPTER XXL 



GOD'S LIGHT THE COMFORTER— REFLECTED LIGHT— DARK- 
NESS. 



As the earth revolves another day cometh, and again the 
spirit rejoiceth in the new morning. The darkness hath left 
the path of man, and no more can he transgress. All dark- 
ness is derived from the earth, all light from Deity. 

Glorious is thy destiny, thou son of God. How wonderful 
thy construction ! Made of earth, yet quickened by the spirit 
of thy Father. Subject unto all material laws, responsible 
unto the earth for their observance, yet above all law spiritu- 
ally, save the word of God spoken in thy soul. Gifted with 
heavenly powers, yet ofttimes falling beneath the basest animal 
passions. Truly thou art a strange being and nobly born. 
Heir of immortality. What can thou render unto Him who 
created thee in return for thy being? Are not all sacrifices 
fruits of his seed? 

Darkness and death are man's earthly inheritance, man's 
chaos. God said, Let there be light, and it shone in man's 
spirit, and he knew and understood. It was given him to know 
of God's goodness. The animal draweth no wisdom from the 
earth, and receiveth no light from Deity. 

The light descended and walked the earth amid sin and 
sorrow, and was not defiled. Its garments were spotless. 
Purity went out from them, and whosoever touched them were 
saved. Its eyes shone in love, and its mouth spake wisdom. 
Rejoicing followed whithersoever it went. 

It shone upon the earth, and darkness strove to depart. 
Those in the shadows feared it, for it revealed. The lowly 
sought for it, and the mighty rejected it. The good rejoiced, 
the wicked gnashed their teeth. 

Might arose against meekness, and strove to banish the re- 
prover from the earth. Truth weakens all opposing forces. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 239 

Goodness harmonizes with all things in existence. A good 
man may be slain, a good seed may die, but death quickeneth 
the word and it shineth again in tenfold splendor. 

Its course on earth is strewn with martyrs. Even so shall 
it be. Yet, light shall succeed. It cleaveth the soul of man, 
and behold he hath no fear. Eternal life feareth not external 
death. Light shall have darkness continually crouching be- 
hind all objects in its path. Love shall be met by hatred, and 
truth by falsehood. 

Yet, God is great and good, and man, while depending upon 
him, and living in harmony with him, has the whole universe 
for a footstool. Oh man, thou art above all he hath made, for 
within thee himself doth breathe, and his breath is eternal. 

The outward universe is the weights and balance-wheels, 
which, during man's earthly sojourn, illustrate the principles 
of the creation. But man is the universe condensed. He 
hath all motions and principles within himself. And within 
himself, too, he hath the mysterious emblem of Deity — his own 
heart — continually sending out new streams of life, and calling 
in the old to be purified. 

Even as the heart sendeth out the life-blood to the limbs and 
extremities, nourishing every muscle and fiber, so doth the 
central light of man's spirit send out through his brain strength- 
ening thoughts and holy contemplation. Yes, he is a twofold 
being. God hath a temple in his very midst, in which alone 
can He be worshiped. 

Seek not afar. Stay at home with Gocl. There is more 
joy in his inspiration than in all else combined. He giveth 
power to enjoy. There is no pain where he dwelleth, and no 
pleasure where he is not. 

Thy heart, oh man, sendeth animal life through an animal 
frame. His light sendeth divinity, and a consciousness of im- 
mortality through thee, at every pulsation. 

Which is better, life or immortality ? Both are good, for 
both are one in thee. Thy present is eternal. Thou art a 
conscious existence, for He dwelleth within thee. Let thy 
animal keep its eyes shut, and thy spirit will receive divine 
illumination. Be thou dark, and He will light thee. 



240 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Oh Father, look within me, that I may become purified. 
Let thy light reveal wisdom, and thy love give strength. How 
weak are thy children ! Yet they are within thy love, and 
truly thine is all strength. We have naught but thee. We 
are nothing, save as thou did make us with powers to be. 

We are centers, around which great truths revolve. Our 
being hath its existence in thee. Our comprehension fills our 
little space with bodies, which, in revolving, give out different 
shades of truth. Through these shadows we pass on toward 
the perfect day. 

Thine is all truth, and the comprehension thereof. Oh, let 
thy children see in thy light its great beauty and all- enduring 
strength. He that leaneth upon thee, is strong indeed. Thou 
art our only staff. We stumble in darkness, and without thy 
light we cannot rise. 

Thy light is the great comforter. The understanding of thy 
love and truth giveth man the assurance of happiness, and in 
thy light cometh understanding. 

Behold, this is the new dispensation — God's Light the 
Comforter of Man. He shall need no other wisdom, save 
that which the light maketh manifest. It shall shine in him, 
and darkness shall flee away. Error shall cease and supersti- 
tion be driven away from the mind of man. No outward forms 
or ceremonies shall bind him, for his light is within. 

He that walketh in the light is on the road to heaven. There 
is no heaven, save that which the light revealeth. 

How beautiful all truths which we gather harmonize ! As 
we journey on in the light, all we receive is part of the all 
which cannot be received by man, he is too small to hold it. 
The truths of the past harmonize with those of our present 
understanding. It is our understanding which changes, truth 
is never past. It is always present, for God is everywhere. 

Keep thy mind free. The spirit receiveth its powers from 
the good Father, and carrieth unto thy mind his light ; yet if 
thou permit outward things to bind thee, how can the light 
move thee ? Let thy body be as free to move in harmony with 
the divine light in thy soul, as are the bodies free to move in 
space, held and guided by the light without. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 241 

In the light all things harmonize — all are good. And when 
our minds are in harmony with the light, all our thoughts are 
good. The purer our vision becomes, the more beautiful and 
consistent do all things appear. The greater our wisdom, the 
weaker and more foolish do we feel, when contemplating the 
works emanating from the great and good Father. 

And what proof of his goodness and infinite wisdom is thus 
given to us. We can find no failure, or sign of blemish, in all 
he hath done. There are myriad things we cannot understand, 
but the little we do know, as kindly shown by his light, his 
revealing power within us, goes to prove that there is ONE who 
knoweth all things, doeth all things, and all are good. 

We cannot know all. Oh no, we can know but very little 
on earth, therefore let us strive to know that little rightly. 

Let us watch for His coming. Let us ever keep the inner 
door open and the seat clean, that He may come in and rest 
awhile in our temple. Oh wait until he cometh. Move not 
alone. Thou art very weak, indeed, unless leaning on his 
strength. 

When thou hast a pure and perfect counselor within thy 
own house — thy own spirit — why go forth seeking and finding 
not ? Thou cannot find food or rest away from home. God 
cometh unto thee, and when he hath entered in, all hath come 
that is worth having. 

He knoweth which is best for thee. And if He maketh thee 
to hunger and thirst, it is only that thou can receive the larger 
draught. There is naught worth having, which is not within 
his love. That which he giveth hath eternal nature. That 
which his light maketh manifest can never be refuted, for it 
must be truth. Do not expect too much, for in dealing with 
Jehovah thou can only receive thy own fullness, and perhaps 
thou art smaller than thou art aware. 

God's lessons, as manifested by the light, always harmonize. 
Thou can see in all He hath taught thee a continued expan- 
sion of understanding, fed by a continued series of truths suita- 
ble for thee to receive. Thou cannot waste truth, neither can 
thou illuminate thy own understanding. 

Thou can only see truth when God's light is within thee. It 



242 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

is this light which openeth the animal's eye, and maketh him 
to be man. With the light cometh understanding. 

How very weak to deny the light, and still claim the under- 
standing. Why deny a cause, yet in the, very act make use of 
its effects ? There must be a just return unto Deity for all 
thou receivest of him. 

Thy fruits are due unto him. Thou must live before men 
so that they know thou art subject unto him. Thou must 
prove thou art a disciple of the great Comforter — God's light 
within. 

Live an holy life. Let the voice of thy daily actions sing 
praises unto thy Father in heaven. Be chaste and pure as 
the sparkling water, so that when he looketh in the light is 
unclouded. Be in all things honest and upright. Let no 
temptation hold thee down. Be free and strong in the truth. 

Thou art to make manifest the light, as it is made manifest 
unto thee. Thou art to love thy kind as God loveth thee. 
Thou art to demonstrate truth. Thy life shall be an illustra- 
tion of these three great principles. 

If the light shine not, who can see ? If love lose feeling, 
who is benefited ? If the truth be not understood, it raiseth 
not man. Thou must blend in all thy actions love, to bind ; 
light, to reveal ; and truth, to strengthen. Thus will thou 
become godlike, for all we know of God cometh by the light, 
love, and truth which His coming bringeth. 

Let thy daily walk be toward perfection. 

Lean confidently upon the arm of God. There can be no 
other safe way. While He is near, thou -may wander up and 
down the earth and all is lovely, all harmonious, all is very 
good. The way is not narrow when he is near, for his light 
illuminates all truth. Enter thou in the broad way of univer- 
sal love, view all things in the light of infinite wisdom, and 
His boundless truth shall aid thee onward toward perfection. 
Be not cramped by chains forged by narrow minds. Thou 
cannot endanger God's works by striving to understand his 
truth. And when he prompts thee to action, then do thou act, 
and the fruits of the action are his. 

To be a good servant thou must be attentive unto the mas- 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 243 

ter. Listen for counsel, wait for advice. What dost thou 
know ? Of all the truths in the material universe, how many 
dost thou truly understand ? And of all that quiet world 
within thee, how much can thou know ? 

Dost thou know God ? By his fruits thou knowest him. 
Therefore, be thou known to be good by that which falleth 
from thy hand. Exercise those powers bestowed upon thee 
that nothing be wasted. 

Thou art gifted with certain capacities, which, if guided 
rightly, will shine before men. They will burn with increasing 
brightness as thou dost expand in wisdom. 

God knoweth the full extent of all thou can do. He know- 
eth precisely what thou will do in every circumstance of thy 
life, for in Him the end hath beginning. He hath quickened 
thee for an high office. Be thou humble and wait for his 
coming. 

The end of truth is not yet. He that walketh with his 
Father in humility will never tire of that which his light reveal- 
eth. For, as in outward nature no two things can be found 
alike, so in the inward truths there is infinite variety, and all 
are beautiful in precise proportion as understood. 

The Creator understandeth all, the inward, the outward, and 
all the uniting links. Every variation and motion is produced 
by his will and his wisdom. If thou would know aught of the 
machinery, would it not be well to go unto the Maker ? If 
thou wish for knowledge, ask of him who made knowledge. 

Truth, and wisdom, which is the understanding of truth, are 
inseparably connected with God. 

He can learn thee more in one flash of light, than thou can 
learn in a lifetime without it. 

To be wise, thou must be willing to receive wisdom in the 
way of its coming. Simply waiting for instruction and desiring 
to receive it, creates an affinity for it. 

Do not dictate unto God. Thy will cannot command wis- 
dom. Thou art used as an instrument, a quickened instrument, 
in the divine hand. Examine, reflect, judge of what passeth 
through thee, but stop not the stream. 

As thou hast always received practical truths, thou must 



244 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

practice them. Strength will be given thee. Be not afraid. 
Do thy duty, even as clearly impressed upon thee, when the 
light cometh. 

The light shall comfort the world. Light commenceth the 
work in the spirit of man. Love continueth it, and truth end- 
eth it. 

Do thou become as nothing in the divine hand, or become 
simply a pen, which shall write his will in his wisdom. Thou 
shalt learn of the deep mysteries, whose very simplicity hides 
them from the common view. 

No man knoweth the goodness of God. The earthly parent 
watches over his flock, doing much for their good which they 
cannot understand; even so the Heavenly Father leadeth on 
his little earthly flock, from the little philosopher in the cradle 
to the little philosopher trembling with age upon the verge of 
the grave, and Himself only can tell at which stage man is 
wisest. 

Man hath no creative power. God's truth is spread out 
before him, and he knoweth it not, until God's light within 
him revealeth it. All discoveries and all inventions are given 
man by the revealing power of the light within. Every true 
man knoweth this to be truth by the experience of his life. 

And when man is said to make a discovery, his Father hath 
been near him for the good of His flock on earth. This does 
not make man a machine, but it giveth unto God that goodness 
which unto Him belongeth. 

An earnest man, seeing the distress of his kind, goeth into 
labor for their good. His whole being, by action and aspira- 
tion, prayeth unto the Father for help, and the help is given. 
Thus is God good, and man his noble son. 

The truth that man does not give his Father within him the 
credit for help, simply shows man's ingratitude. No man can, 
unaided, accomplish any good work, for goodness is not sepa- 
rate from perfect good. And every man simply lives up to 
his highest nature, when he goeth daily unto his Father for 
instruction. 

And how beautifully are we constructed, that He can come 
daily or hourly into the inner temple of our being, and there 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 245 

teach us while none can hear. Oh man, keep thy temple clear, 
let no intruder take His seat. He is truly the light within, 
and without him all is dark indeed. 

Thou art the only earthly being in which he is known, the 
only resting-place for his spirit ; therefore become as a gar- 
den, filled with sweet things, so that his rest may be pleasant. 

It is by and through his coming that all thy purest enjoy- 
ment is given. There is no true happiness for man's spirit 
where he is not. What folly for man, the rational child of 
God, to go out hunting for happiness or heaven, when it is all 
within him. 

All happiness derived from the outward things of earth par- 
take of their nature, change, and pass away. All happiness 
derived from God's presence lasteth, for it partakes of his 
nature — eternal truth. We can experience heavenly happi- 
ness, and pass on in our progression, and in our journey meet 
with dark places, for they are all along the road, yet the effect 
of the happiness long ago felt is with us, and hath helped us 
along thus far. 

Blessed are the naked in spirit, for they shall be clothed 
with holy garments. 

Do not strive to hide thee, or to wear another's garments. 
Do not attempt to wear a mask, for God knoweth precisely 
what thou art. He made thy beginning, and knoweth thy 
ending. Thy free-agency does not limit his knowledge. And 
if he knows thee precisely as thou art, why lower thyself before 
him in order to deceive man ? 

Thou art a man ; who, save God, can be more ? Then be 
thou worthy to learn of him the simplicity of truth. 

Truth, as a strong stream, runneth through the mind of 
man, and if the mind be active, it will receive its share in the 
passing waters. If the mind be cloudy, the truths seem im- 
pure ; but if the mind be clear, then does the stream deposit in 
its bed bright golden sands and sparkling diamonds, which 
send out bright rays of light. 

If man do not learn wisdom, it is simply because he hath 
more faith in himself than in God. True wisdom cannot be 
gained, save through God's light, which shineth in man's 



246 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

spirit. If the light do not shine, truth is not revealed. Man's 
true wisdom commenceth on earth, but it never ends. God 
hath no end. 

Who can teach man, save his own Creator ? Who can un- 
derstand so well what is wanted as he who created power to 
want ? When man's spirit is hungry, God alone can feed him. 
Outside teachers and outside feeders can supply animal wants 
and material knowledge, but God's child hungereth not after 
these things. 

We have faith in man, yet have no faith in the power 
through whom faith comes. The spirit shut out from God's 
light within dwindles like unto the body shut out from the 
light of day. 

Light is necessary unto all life. And as outward things 
droop and sicken in outer darkness, so doth the spirit of man 
droop and wither in the dread darkness of God's absence from 
the soul. 

When his light goeth out, none other can illuminate. When 
his light shineth, there is no darkness. The outer light reveal- 
eth outward wisdom, and inward light revealeth God's good- 
ness. These two blend in all truths man can comprehend, for 
himself is a combination of the two. 

To the man who thinks rightly there is no discord in the 
universe. All things blend in and illustrate truth. To him 
God is in all things. The veriest atom hath power to prove 
its own indestructibility. The purest thought can prove but 
little more. The least particle God ever made cannot be mas- 
tered by all of man's greatness. He cannot destroy one atom. 
God did not design man to be a destroyer. He hath no 
power to destroy. But God, in his perfect goodness, did give 
man power and privilege to change, transfer, convert, construct 
his own idea of truth, in order that he might in all things prove 
its eternal nature. 

He can collect and disperse, but never destroy. He is mas- 
ter over two worlds, the outward body and the inward spirit. 
He can guide and govern them, but never destroy them. It is 
their nature to change and refine : the body on earth, the spirit 
in heaven. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 247 

There is no pure light but that which emanates from Deity. 
All other light that ever has been, or ever can be, is reflected, 
and in the reflecting surface leaveth some of its rays. Thus 
when men follow the teachings of a man, let him be high and 
holy, they do not receive as high and as congenial instructions 
as those inner promptings give, for the spirit which reflecteth 
God's light unto them retaineth some little of its rays within 
itself. 

God knoweth instantly every motion and variation of the 
universe. Time belongeth unto man's flesh. The length of 
our animal existence is our time. It commences without our 
aid, and ends when the spirit leaves the body. 

All instructions received from the divine light in the soul 
are parts of eternal wisdom. They come from and end in 
God. 

Unto animal man and outward wisdom, God's ever presence 
with all seems incredible. It seems strange, indeed, that one 
being can be at all times in all places, or that one being can at 
all times know all things that are occurring everywhere in the 
universe. 

We cannot understand perfection ; let us reason from what 
we do know. We know with what inconceivable velocity the 
outward reflected light travels. We also know that our 
thoughts leave it far behind in our distant searches after 
knowledge. We have also experienced that within us is at 
times a power which reveals instantly truth that our highest 
and quickest thought is slow beside. 

This light or power within us we call God's wisdom, or his 
light, and we know it is his, because it is above and beyond 
our control ; now, knowing these things to be true by our life's 
experience, how easy to infer that as this is our progression in 
wisdom — outward light, quickest thought, quickened spirit — 
how easy to infer that God, the perfection of the quickest 
light within us, can be and is at all times in all places. 

Our little being travels in thought so quickly that we cannot 
measure its speed; we are almost instantly every where we will 
to be. Our spirit clingeth instantly unto our Father in heaven. 
And what are we but scintillations, or little spirit stars, roam- 



248 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

ing through his vast spirit, which unto us is all space or chaos, 
save the one little drop we understand ? 

Let us have faith in God, it is ourselves that are little and 
weak. He is all around and in us, knowing all things and 
doing all things. Do we know our own littleness ? Then let 
us trust unto his greatness. 

Would it not be wise to dwell near unto him ? He is an 
eternal friend. He never deceives. His words are living 
truth. His eye never grows dim, and he never wearies. 

Oh, how doth man require such a friend ! There are so 
many dark places along our pathway, through which the eye 
of man cannot pierce, our vision fails, our hope burns low, and 
from all we can see, darkness must soon completely fill our 
being. 

The eye of God looketh into our spirit, and myriad beauties 
spring into bright and beautiful new life, even as in the out- 
ward all things appear upon the rising of the sun. The clouds 
disperse, and with great relief we arise, and journey onward 
toward another night ! 

While in the outward our every day is followed by a night, 
and the brighter the day the darker will seem the night. 
As we journey on, and increase in wisdom, as we leave the 
outward and become more inward and spiritual, looking after 
those things which perfect light revealeth, we see less and still 
less of the dark places, for there can be no darkness in the 
perfect light. 

The spirit would tire of light, if more were given than it 
could hold. 

The spirit of man resteth in darkness, as the body in the 
earthly night. It is so constructed that it must change. Now 
if a human spirit knew and could feel continually God's pres- 
ence, could feel the divine light to be shining within it at all 
times, and yet be imperfect, then that spirit could not find 
rest, but would work itself unto death. 

Does this seem strange ? God's light doth set in motion all 
man's highest powers, and doth keep them in motion. It is 
God's will that man's spirit should know the wisdom of dark- 
ness, or self-dependence ; therefore, if the light continually 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 249 

shone in man, man would cease to be, for his nature would be 
all light, instead of half darkness. 

If his light were perfect, and his powers imperfect, the whole 
tenor and harmony of his being would be destroyed. 

If the sun shone upon but half the earth, and the earth had 
no revolving motion, if it could not find darkness, then the 
earth would burn, wither, and decay. The earth in man is the 
darkness, which, as it were, makes the beauty and holiness of 
God's light apparent. 

Therefore, pray for light, but oh, remember that at times 
thy greatest darkness may be caused by His greatest love for 
thee. Can darkness overcome the will of God ? 

Remember it is the dark, or earth-nature, which alone sepa- 
rates thee from every other man in existence. God's light 
favoreth no man, it illuminates all his children in proportion as 
they will receive it. Thus, his light playing upon thy brain, 
which is earthly, produceth thy individuality, it maketh thee 
an individual one ; and the same light, playing upon another's 
brain, maketh him to be separate from all the rest. 

Thus darkness, or the absence of light, is seen to help man 
on toward perfection. All things are, in perfect wisdom, very 
good. If we are not good, our wisdom is simply imperfect. 

Surely we should not expect to attain perfection, while in 
the first stage of our progression. We should not expect to 
receive our Father's most precious gifts until we can under- 
stand them. Would this reveal His wisdom ? Thus we can 
see revealed the beauty of such wisdom ; it is perfect, yet the 
most imperfect comprehension is filled and fitted unto its 
utmost capacity. 



17 



CHAPTER XXII. 

HEAVENLY LIFE— WEAKNESS OF SOCIETIES— FRUIT TREES 
— MAN CANNOT MAKE ANYTHING SACRED — SUPER- 
STITION. 

There can be no waste in spiritual things. The earthly 
atom is indestructible, and the veriest atom of spiritual wisdom 
hath its place in the universe, and without either one, God 
would be imperfect. 

Hope on, oh thou child of God ! Existence thou hast, and, 
use it as thou may, it is thine forever ; therefore, arise, and go 
unto thy Father. If thou art foolish, ask him for wisdom ; if 
weak, ask him for strength ; and if degraded, ask him for 
purity. Ask in humble sincerity, and thou shalt receive. 

Thou wert made by a perfect hand, thou art filled by one 
who knoweth thy wants far better than thou dost, therefore do 
not expect a draught which would drown thee, for thou will 
only receive just enough to quench thy thirst. Who receiveth 
thanks for filling those who feel already full ? 

Those who are filled with foolishness, have no room for wis- 
dom. Those who are wise in their own judgment, are very 
frequently unwise in the judgment of others. 
• Let us endeavor to stand firm in the truth. When the divine 
light enters our spirit, let it shine unclouded. Those things 
which are required of us are made manifest in light. 

For the numberless blessings which we receive from our 
Father, what return can we make ? How can we fill our des- 
tiny ? And what are we destined to be ? Who liveth of him- 
self alone ? Oh man, what art thou ? How came thou here ? 
Why dost thou tarry awhile, and then depart ? And whither 
goest thou ? 

Thou art the connecting link between all and nothing. The 
time was when thou wert nothing. Thou began at the begin- 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 251 

ning and art journeying onward toward that all which caused 
thee to be. Thou hast limitation, yet the illimitable is within 
thee. Of thyself thou art simply one ; a result of laws, and 
by laws governed. Of God, thou art above all law. There is 
no law above God's child. 

Thou art free in him, and out of him thou art bound. All 
true liberty, and all true enjoyment, are within our compre- 
hension of our Father in happiness. The spirit which hath 
daily communion with God hath no fear, and need ask no favor 
of man. 

Oh Father, thou knowest our littleness and our weakness, 
would that we could see more clearly thy goodness. Be pleased 
to mete out unto us what in thy sight is good for us. Let us 
not have that which we would, but that which thou wouldst. 
Teach us thyself, for thou knowest best ; and if we presume to 
ask thee, let not our asking avail but that which is right, even 
though it be thought by us to be all wrong. 

We come to thee with the confidence of little children, but 
our spirits are bruised against the outside world, and would 
fain be healed. We are in strong cages. The prejudices of 
the mind cloud our windows, so that thy very light is at times 
obscured, or so narrowed down, that we can scarcely see. Oh, 
for more of thy true freedom. 

The life of the spirit is God's breath. The life of the body 
is in the sustenance he receives from earth. God is unbounded. 
The breath of his nostrils goeth and cometh, and none can 
stay. But man sickens and dies and passes away, and the 
earth rolleth on, carrying his works to dissolution. From 
where he stood there goeth one upward, and, as a little child, 
it enters its eternal home. And this is the beginning of the 
heavenly life. 

It requireth no plan for the working out of man's glory. It 
cannot be ruled over or formed into laws, for its first ray 
shineth in perfect freedom. The child of God and the child 
of man dwell in the same house. The one subject unto the 
law, and the other above all law, a perfect child of perfect 
freedom. 

They dwell together. They begin together. They can 



252 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

begin no other way, for this was God's good will toward 
them. He placed his son in flesh that flesh might teach it of 
those sufferings which all flesh is heir to. He allotted a time 
for the indwelling of the child, and placed trials and tempta- 
tions in the way that it might know the glory of goodness, the 
sweetness of overcoming. 

This is the experience of every son of God ever created. 
There is continually temptation, but the temptation cannot 
prevail where the son of God doeth its duty. Now this to me 
is rendered plain. I seem to see two children dwelling to- 
gether. One pure and spotless, of high aspirations ; the other 
partaking of the nature of beasts and animals of all descrip- 
tions. The one striveth to mount upward, the other seeketh 
downward. 

They are bound together, yet nearly all of their enjoyment 
is separate or different. 

One would flee heavenward, but the other feareth to leave 
the earth, for the earth supplyeth all its wants. Their jour- 
ney is up and down through the earth. I notice that the pure 
one taketh up those things which the other collects and purifies 
them, so that the most impure things put on white garments, 
and become very beautiful. 

Now after dwelling thus together so long as the Father 
desires, the pure one seems to absorb the very life of the other, 
and yet lose none of its transparency, and finally there dwell- 
eth but one within a house which is not of earth, and of the 
other there is but a shell left, which soon is lost in earth. 

It would seem that we must exterminate the earth from our 
household. It is this which constitutes our chains. 

The son of God is bound within flesh on earth. Herein he 
doth commence to learn his Father's wisdom. The flesh must 
be sacrificed, and from the overcoming of its desires must we 
reap our reward. This is our labor. 

This son is my highest self. My holy individuality, my 
knowledge of Divinity, my conception of heavenly things. All 
have it. God favors no man. All are and always have been 
free to partake of his love and his wisdom. His truth is plain ; 
blessed are the simple-minded, for they shall understand it. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 253 

Get not above it, go down to it, seek after it, oh thou bound 
one of earth, for in a knowledge of truth lies all freedom. 

Yes, man, God's son is within thee, even thou art he. He 
is within thee, thou in him, and both are one in God. Such 
is and has been his plan. Dost thou see it, can thou under- 
stand his goodness ? If so, thou art already in the outer halls 
of heaven, or holy happiness. 

And as thou dost enter the heavens prepared for those of 
pure understanding, behold then cometh the freedom. Thou 
art a child of purity, and thy very shadow is transparent. Now 
thou can see the goodness of the plan. Thou dost dwell in 
flesh because there is wisdom which thou can obtain in no 
other way. 

Surely God could have created thee perfect as easily as to 
have created thee as thou art, for he is unlimited. He could 
as easily have given thee the highest estate of man perfected 
as to have brought thee into the world a slave. But behold 
the goodness of the plan ; His wisdom is all practical, and 
must be practiced to be comprehended. How could thou learn 
imperfection if thou wert perfected in the beginning ? Now, 
when thou shall walk the heavens a perfect man thou can say, 
" I am what I have made myself to be by selecting and retain- 
ing my Father's wisdom." 

Thus thou hast a right in happiness ; thou hast earned it ; 
thou hast fought for it and suffered for it, and it is thine, 
thine forever. When thou standest thus by thy Father's side, 
and can learn from him of those deep mysteries of eternal 
wisdom, thou will know that within thy own being thou hast a 
doubly refined universe. Yes, oh man, thou art second only 
unto God. His companion shalt thou be. His own word 
shall teach thee, and his own happiness shall thou share. 

Thou hast begun. He placed thee at the beginning and 
himself is the end. A glorious destiny is thine. Keep to the 
true path — it will always be rendered plain. Thou art never 
God's servant when thy duty is not clear before thee. His 
truths always have a solid foundation. 

As the infant groweth unto manhood, so hath mankind 
grown from the beginning. True men have in all ages of the 



254 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

world been avenues leading unto God's wisdom, and through 
their instrumentality his light hath descended to the earth. 
Each man hath had his followers, because the truths were par- 
tially comprehended as he explained them — it was easier to 
bear his yoke than any other, and the yoke seemed necessary. 

The time will come on earth when no man will follow his 
brother. The reign of perfect freedom. Each man shall know 
his brother to be the son of God, and will be content that his 
Father teach him. This is what all are progressing toward. 

Follow thou no form, no creed, no saying, no law. Be thou 
God's own free child, unto whom he can come and find no 
barrier. Stand firm upon thy own manhood. Rest upon the 
eternal truths revealed by God's light within thy own spirit. 

Let no tradition or superstition bind thee. It is not in 
accordance with thy progressive nature to hold fast to thing3 
which are behind thee. Thou must look upward, never back- 
ward. Thy light and all illumination comes to thee from above. 
Are not the sun, moon, and stars, in the heavens above thee ? 
Those that are under thy feet, beneath the earthly level, are 
unseen by thee. Seest thou no wisdom in this outward truth ? 
Behold thy light shall come from above thee. Then, when 
thou hast the great central sun within thee, why look back to 
distant ages for light ? 

When thou can drink daily wisdom which fits thy being as a 
garment, why go back hundreds or thousands of years in order 
to get garments made for others to wear ? Oh superstition ! 
when wilt thou leave the mind of man ? 

If a brother violateth a law he recieveth the penalty, and 
thus illustrates the law to thee. Thus all mutually instruct 
one another. The stars shine together, casting light unto one 
another. But as the stars give only reflected light, so do men 
give unto one another only light which is reflected from 
within. 

The stars shine not of themselves, for matter is not self- 
productive. Neither can man shine of himself, but as God 
shineth in him. 

It seemed in God's good plan only necessary for man to in- 
habit the earthly body a little space of time. Our time is but 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 255 

the door through which we enter eternity. It opens, we enter, 
and it is shut behind us, leaving us in eternal space. Space 
to us, but unto God one vast store-room of knowledge. Truly 
all is vacant space where there is no understanding. 

During the short moment we carry flesh, would it not be 
well to learn all we can of its nature and capacity ? Why 
vex our spirits with questions which, settled either way, are 
of little account unto thy own eternal well-being ? God's 
truths are plain and simple in their greatness. No two men 
need try to agree in the understanding of truth, for truth is 
one and they are separate. 

Think not that God's greatest truths, so to speak, are farthest 
from thee. The one great truth which unto thee openeth into 
all truth, is within thee. Thou can learn all there. Thou 
dost not need much of the ballast of the universe, just enough 
to steady thee. And thou wilt find, if true unto thy inward 
instructor, that all knowledge of outward things is within thee. 
Of what avail unto thee are those things which thou dost not 
understand ? 

Thy eyes show thee a beautiful tree. This is all they can 
do. They can see the color and form, and but little else. 
The strength, and all uses which the tree can be applied unto, 
are seen by thy inward eye of knowledge. Man groweth in 
wisdom even as the oak from the acorn. And as the beauty 
and usefulness combine in the strong tree, so do they combine 
in man. He is symmetrical in form and feature ; yet the most 
distorted form sometimes conceals the most lovely spirit ; even 
so the tree which is twisted and crooked is for some purposes 
far more useful than the symmetrical one. 

All laws governing the outward govern thy outward as well. 
Thou wert created man, and man shalt thou be unto all 
eternity. 

Thy spirit is above all law. Thy knowledge groweth with 
thy growth. Let thy wisdom become like unto the tree spoken 
of. Let the roots sink deep in the fundamental truths of 
earth. Let the shaft rise straight and strong in the light, and 
let love fill thy branches with fresh foliage. 

Rear thy tree upon the open plain, and the winds shall not 



256 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

destroy thee ; the tempest may shake thee, and may even tear 
off some of thy branches, but if the roots are firmly imbedded 
as they should be, there can be no danger of thy being torn 
out. Thou can stand by thyself, and resist tempests which 
will uproot thee if thou depend upon others. 

How beautiful is this illustration ! See how weak are the 
woods ! Hundreds of trees are laid prostrate before the hurri- 
cane which cannot uproot the self-dependent one. And let 
thy mind view this inwardly. One true self-dependent, or 
rather, God-dependent man, is stronger than a whole society 
of followers. 

How weak in man that they cluster together. In man unity 
is weakness. Two men agreeing to unite are weaker than if 
they did not unite in all spiritual things. The reason is plain — 
God entereth individuals and never societies. Again, societies 
spring up from the roots; they grow from the larger trees, 
sapping away their strength from those who would stand firm 
alone. Thus they strive with two weaknesses, relying upon 
one another to produce one strength. They shoot up heaven- 
ward after light, but their roots are weak, and when the hurri- 
cane comes they are prostrated. 

This is true of all societies. One man will erect an image. 
He will portray his idea of God ; render it so plain that hun- 
dreds and thousands will flock to his image to woship it as he 
does ! What folly ! Is not God himself within thee ? within 
all? And if so, why need thou seek elsewhere for images or 
ideas to worship ? 

Let each man worship God as God shall direct within his 
own spirit, and there will soon be many weak societies, and 
very many strong men in the truth. 

It would seem that God would have us stand so that his light 
could not only enter our branches, but play around our bodies 
and refresh our roots, thus keeping up the true balance of our 
being, even as designed in our creation. 

Man hath no power to cast out God's light in the perfection 
which he receives it. All that comes from him is reflected, and 
though many reflected rays meeting at one point may make a 
great light, still the same rays have in each one been greater 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 257 

before they were reflected. Again, if each man strive to 
direct his light in an arbitrary path, there must be still more 
wasted. Light of conscience is above all law, it hath no regu- 
lation save that given by God. 

This, then, would seem to be the fault of all united action ; 
it weakens individual reliance upon God. 

This can be beautifully illustrated by those trees which bear 
fruit. Each tree must be allowed space enough for the light 
and air to get all sides of it, else the fruit is imperfect. Dark- 
ness cannot bring forth fruit : light is the quickening power. 

One tree standing thus by itself will bring forth more accept- 
able truths, more beautiful fruit, than will several trees which 
have been planted too closely. 

In man a large supply of truth is necessary unto happiness. 
Happiness is as a garment. On earth flesh is the fabric, but 
God is the weaver. Does not light regulate color and beauty ? 
Keep thy garment white, for it attracts the light. 

Do thou gather truths, not in selfishness but in love. Love 
thy kind with a perfect love. Love not their faults, but love 
that which they were intended to be. Oh remember every 
man is a living child of God. Created by him, and by him 
rendered capable of as much as thou. Ask no man to follow 
thee, and do thou follow no man. 

It is not love to gather together, but to gather home unto 
God. Your bodies are of little worth, walking statues, dead 
houses, until quickened by the spirit of the Father. 

What doctrine is simpler or more grandly sublime than this, 
God is within every man ? What man believing this requireth 
creed or form to express his belief? This is all in all. No 
man needeth more than this thought, " My Father hath his 
heaven within myself." He who can remember this truth hath 
no unhappiness. Happiness cometh from within, because God 
is there. 

To my view this is rendered plain, and hence I see clearly 
the folly of going outward after enjoyment, but being still in 
the flesh the flesh will crave that lesser happiness which unto 
it belongeth. And this maketh war, in which no weapon is 
used. 



258 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Rely firmly upon God. All things are his. All reward 
worth having cometh from his spirit unto thine. Of what 
avail were the praises of the whole world, if thy own light con- 
demned thee ? 

Live up to thy own highest idea. Worship no idols. There is 
but one God, and he is perfect. Unto thee he is a loving Father. 
His holy spirit holdeth communion with every child on earth. 
And oh, how wise his counsel, and how plain his ways unto all 
who open unto him ! All teaching and all preaching cannot 
bring him nearer unto earth. He is no nearer ten thousand 
than he is unto one. 

How beautiful, and yet how simple, is the truth ! Learn 
to sacrifice all thy own desires, and only in the truth do 
thou live. If God and his truth cannot support thee, what 
can ? 

Walk forward diligently in thy own path. And as thou 
dost walk, let the light of thy ways, the goodness of thy 
actions shine before men. Arise each morning, and turn to- 
ward the light, and it shall illuminate thy pathway. 

Let thy own shaft rise high toward heaven. Get above the 
clouds, and thou will find purer light. But be sure and have 
all firm beneath thee, that thou art not broken in pieces by the 
storms of time. 

Be not in haste. Better know one truth than guess at a 
thousand. It is that which thou dost know and feel that is of 
benefit unto thee. The truths of thy experience are thy own. 
No two men can have the same experience, and hence there 
can be no discord, save when they strive to agree. 

The wisdom of one man requireth but little room. Thou 
need never fear getting in God's way with thy immensity. 
Thou maybe wise in humility, but never in presumption. Thou 
will learn the greatest truths in the purest simplicity. 

It is time man had more confidence in the power of God. It 
is time that the images of him wrought out by man should be 
broken in pieces. It is time for spiritual freedom. 

Why should man's body be free and his spirit bound ? Bet- 
ter far have the body cast in loathsome dungeons than have 
the spirit in chains. Flesh is weight enough to balance the 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 259 

spirit in its search after wisdom, without fastening unto it a 
load of superstition. 

All education should lead to the most enlarged freedom of 
thought. In all things the spirit should be left free to receive 
the divine impressions in purity. 

Let all things be tested in the light of truth, and if they be 
right, a witness will spring up in their favor. If they have 
no witness in the light of truth then they are false, and should 
be rejected, even though millions of men profess to believe in 
their truthfulness. Remember this : there is no truth but what 
hath a witness in God's light within thee. 

There is nothing too sacred for man to touch. He is the 
child of God. There is nothing above thee in the universe, save 
the Creator of the universe. Then of what need thou be afraid ? 
Enter thou into the temples made with hands, and if therein 
thou find aught but truth, pluck it out. 

Man cannot make sacred his own inventions, neither will 
God make them sacred, for they are imperfect. And if myriad 
men shall say, u we agree that this thing is truth," they each 
one place a stumbling-block in their own way. Do not thou 
dictate unto God in what manner thou wilt receive truth, but 
be glad to receive it in the way of its coming. 

Thy spirit hath no more law than hath the spirit of God. 
Thou art one with him — a very little one, indeed, compared 
with him — but still thou art one, and as one shalt thou stand 
unto all eternity. 

Now if thou bind thyself, or permit man to bind thee, by 
any laws, or any prejudices, or superstition whatsoever, thou 
art simply less capable of enjoyment than thou would be free. 

When a number of men strive to agree upon any given mode, 
or form of thought or worship, they simply strive to reject all 
truth that does not coincide or fit with their adopted form. And 
can thought be bound without man being a great loser ? If 
truth must be trimmed down to thy dimensions, how art thou 
to expand ? How can thou progress ? 

Surely it were better to take all thou can find and hold fast 
unto all thou receivest, than to remain but partly filled. Those 
things which are perfect, are, of course, unchangeable, but thou 



260 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

art not perfect, neither hath any man ever been perfect, and 
therefore no perfect form can be by him produced. 

There is no greater enemy unto all superstition, and no 
greater friend unto man's progress, than freedom of thought. 
The spirit of man hath powers which are divine, and if not 
hindered by its partnership with flesh, the powers will work out 
his elevation in truth. 

As thou dost value happiness and wisdom, keep thyself free 
from man. Be neither guided nor governed by him, but wait 
diligently upon thy Father in heaven, and thou shall receive 
happiness in wisdom. Seek first thy Father in heaven, and in 
his divine light thou shall learn to help man heavenward. 

There are those among men who are bound by a very excess 
of freedom. A misdirected freedom of thought will entirely 
unsettle the human mind, and prove in the end more disastrous 
than bondage. 

If a man have no confidence in God, and thus hath no center, 
his course, if not bound by fixed forms, resembles what we 
might suppose would be the course of the earth, if the sun were 
extinguished. 

We must approach God to obtain the true freedom, and 
unless he enter within us, we have it not. All true freedom 
cometh from the center, and extendeth unto the circumference, 
cometh from God within, and influenceth man without. What 
can be greater freedom for an imperfect being than to be bound 
by only one being, and that one boundless perfection ? 

Lose not thy hold upon the center. Without that central 
power, which holds thee unto Deity, thou art worse than the 
vessel whose rudder and anchor are gone. What is there in thy 
being of value greater than any other animal, save thy spirit 
and its affinity for its Creator? Why should thou be called the 
son of God, if thou art subject unto the animal nature ? 

The earth is laden with fruit for man's enjoyment. All 
beings on earth have their wants fitted together perfectly. Man 
is so constructed that his animal part hath all its wants sup- 
plied. And while his animal is collecting food, and viewing 
the beautiful things around him, his spirit is extracting there- 
from its sustenance, which is the truth within all he collects. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 261 

As thy brain is not formed by what another eats, neither 
can thy spirit be strengthened by what another thinks. Keep 
thy own being distinct in the universe. Be not entangled in 
the crowd so that thou cannot be found, and would be scarcely 
worth having wert thou found. 

Let the divine will govern thee in all things. And remem- 
ber that the divine will is not composed of flesh. Thy animal 
nature receiveth nothing directly from God in the outward. 
All flesh cometh from and returneth unto the earth. It drops 
from thee, and thou standest forth a man — the noblest work of 
God. 

Upon what dost thou stand, oh man ? Remove thy flesh, 
and what art thou ? Where have been thy thoughts while in 
the outer body, and where art thou now ? Is not flesh drop- 
ping daily from man ? Art thou not continually casting from 
thee particles of the body ? And when thou leavest all of it 
behind thee, then shalt thou enter upon a new field of labor. 

Man was not made for idleness, yet God did not intend him 
to labor exclusively with his hands. There is a field where only 
God's hand laboreth, and its labor is love. The truths made 
manifest unto the spirit of man are his reward for labor. All 
light and all love are truths. The new field shall have no 
boundary. 

Is there any boundary unto love ? Or is light controlled 
save by its Creator ? Into this field shall thou enter. The 
feeling of love in its purity cannot be endured by flesh. God 
is merciful. A mother's love for her child has the least of 
earth in it. There is nothing on earth so pure, so nearly 
allied unto God's love for man, as is the mother's love for her 
offspring. 

She bears with them, endures pain and privation, suffers 
with them, and in their joy rejoices ; even as our good Father, 
we hope, doeth unto us. She loveth them in good and evil 
report ; she is constant and well wishing. Her sufferings cry 
unto her Father in their behalf continually. Love is blind 
unto all faults ; it vieweth all things in the eternal light of 
goodness. Far better love blindly, than to love not at all. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



OUTWARD AND INWARD WORLDS— SPIRITUAL STRENGTH 
— FAITH AND WORK — GOODNESS AND LIBERALITY — 
WORDS AND WORSHIP. 



Oh man, if thou art capable of so much, and art so little, 
what must thy Father be ? Great beyond conception. Good 
beyond measure. And loving beyond our greatest power of 
feeling. 

His love filleth space with happiness. The morning stars 
sing praises in it, and the universe rejoiceth. All he hath 
created are in and bound by love. Everywhere this joyous 
feeling carries its binding influence. Everywhere, from the 
atom unto Deity, all things are bound by His love. Love 
boundeth the creation, whose center is God, and his messenger 
light. 

Let philosophy drop its mysteries, and view this plain truth. 
God is the center of all attraction. The attractive power is 
His love, and the understanding of this coming to man is His 
purest Light. The love holdeth and cementeth, and the light 
giveth life. Without love the creation were formless ; and 
without light it were lifeless ; and without God, the center of 
them, no thing had been. 

There is no outward cause. God dwelleth within. He is 
central. All power dwelleth in Him. Those little forces 
which man can, in a measure, control, are little branches of 
that great central idea whose wisdom holdeth all things in 
harmony. 

Thus can thou see in thy minute wisdom one little ray of 
that great light. And as thy mind, in its littleness, sees one 
little truth revealed in thee, so does the Divine mind know all 
things. God's wisdom is thine just so far as thou can see. 

To me this is perfectly clear. My mind, or its central 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 263 

light, seems to travel instantly through untold miles of space, 
and seeth God's love, holding in its grasp comets and bodies 
which the eye of man hath never seen ; and yet I sit here, 
the humblest, weakest child of God, endeavoring to illus- 
trate one little piece of truth whose dimension is the least of 
atoms. 

Yet, oh God, this is mine ! This little understanding which 
thou hast revealed unto me is worth ten thousand worlds. Yes, 
this inlooking eye of light which thou hast called man, thy 
child, is the diamond whose brilliant beams penetrate all things. 
Flesh and blood are not man. They perish, but the child of 
God liveth. They are the casket, but the priceless jewel is 
within. 

Get thou within thy own household, for therein is thy Father 
waiting for thee. Dwell not in outer temples. Remember 
thou can only find eternal wisdom within thee. Thy body 
falleth and breaketh like the stone, but thy spirit flieth with 
the light. 

Thou art given an inward power which openeth unto thee 
the channels of eternal wisdom. God's eye looks through thee 
unto the ends of space, and thou seest goodness revealed in 
perfect love. Behold how beautiful all things are when seen 
in his light. 

Even as the outer light renders clear unto thy vision the 
glory of the outer worlds, so doth that inner light of wisdom 
open unto thy spiritual vision inward worlds of happiness 
which thou can enter. Even as thou art an outward child of 
man, so art thou an inward son of God. 

With man's eye thou seest only imperfections. Thou 
viewest things not as they are, but as thou art. But when 
thou dost enter within, and thy Father cometh, then cometh 
understanding, and thou dost see clearly. 

God hath made his truth so perfect that every outward law 
points unto Him. All outward forms are harmonizing illus- 
trations of great inward truths. 

Oh man ! when thou dost behold the harmony of God's 
laws, as exhibited in the outward, remember that all the knowl- 
edge thus revealed is known within thee. God's wisdom 



264 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

reraaineth the same, even though no man can comprehend it. 
Be thou alive, quickened by the divine light. 

That being in whom we dwell hath a witness within us 
which convinceth, and guideth unto well-doing. When we 
become in harmony, one with God ; when His will guideth us, 
we enter the realms of the blessed, because in his love dwelleth 
all happiness. 

There is a beauty in holiness which surpasseth all outward 
beauty. God's goodness is eternal. Oh how little is man ! 
Blessed is he who doeth his Father's will. 

I have been shown the value of one good action. Behold it 
shone as a star of the first magnitude. A gem most beautiful 
to behold — placed in the center of the forehead of him who was 
faithful, and it shone with an heavenly luster. 

Its light was eternal. Sun, moon, and stars vanished ; their 
mission w T as ended, yet the good action did shine brighter in 
the light of eternal day. 

Blessed is he who loveth goodness for itself alone. Blessed 
is he who can do one pure unselfish act. for he doeth the will 
of the Father. 

Oh man, know this truth and heed it well — goodness alone 
endureth. By thy fruits art thou known. One good action 
is worth to thee far more than the whole earth. 

Have faith in thy Father, thy Creator. This is the only 
faith thou wilt ever need, for this covereth all. His goodness 
filleth all things and all places. 

Love goodness for itself alone. All goodness is fruit grown 
from love in purity. No man doeth a good action unless God's 
love be in him. Love sanctifieth the deed, and it becometh 
good. 

Thou can do no good thing in hatred or selfishness. When 
thou would do a good deed thou must take with thee thy 
Father. Thou must not be seen of men. If He see thee, that 
is sufficient. Goodness is all inward but its covering ; its 
effects may be seen by the outward eye. 

If thou clothe the naked, the enduring warmth lieth in thy 
own spirit. Thus the outward act warmeth thy spirit by a 
fresh supply of love, while it also warms the naked body of a 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 265 

brother. And, perhaps his spirit is also warmed by the love 
thou hast imparted in the action. 

There can be no love wasted, neither light, nor yet truth. 
These are divine attributes, and are perfect. They are in . 
harmony in all things, and in the creator of them. Every 
action in harmony with them raiseth man higher toward per- 
fection. 

Get thou above the animal comprehension. 

Learn to act as becometh the son of God. Remember thou 
earnest what thou dost receive. As thou dost exercise the 
holy parts of thee, so do they grow. - Thy stature in God's 
presence is just so large as are thy good deeds. Thou only 
knowest truly those things which thou hast done. 

Hast thou ever clone one good act ? Hast thou ever purely 
loved goodness ? What is all this earth to thee ? If thou did 
own it, could thou stop its course ? Or could it stop thine ? 

Cast its cares from thee ; be not bound by them. Perform 
thy duties as if thou wert their master. Surely God did not 
make this earth simply for a prison, in which to confine not 
only the bodies but the spirits of his children. 

How can thou serve God while loaded down with earthly 
cares? How can thou receive his wisdom, or act in his love, 
when thou art inwardly full of dust ? Dost thou not know 
that this earth is not thy home ? 

Thou art in God's first school. The rudimental truths of 
the creation are around thee. Learn them well. In thy 
daily walks gather home large sheafs of wisdom. There is 
nothing in vain in all the outward. The whole universe 
is teeming with truth ; everything thy eye beholds, and every 
sensation received by thy animal senses, is produced by truth. 

Now, therefore, if thou root in the earth as the swine, still 
truth is there. If thou swim in the water as the fish, still 
there is truth all around thee. Whatsoever thou doest as an 
animal, still wilt thou receive thy animal measure in fullness 
of truth. 

When thou dost become an animal, then God loseth a son, 
and thou dost lose all worth having. The swine find that in , 
the earth which is their reward for laboring, and are well 
18 



266 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

satisfied. If the earth satisfy thee, thou art not far above the 
swine. All things which God hath made are good, and 
impart happiness one unto another. If thy aspirations never 
get above the outward world, still thou wilt find therein thy 
deserved amount of happiness. 

There is a power within thee which refineth the earth. 
Thou hast God's own refining fire within thee. The swine 
find the corn planted in the earth, and can draw from it all 
the outward enjoyment unto it belonging. Thou seest it 
growing, blossoming, and bearing fruit a thousand fold. Thou 
addest unto its time thy future, eternity. 

Thou can take the simplest outward truth, and extract 
therefrom truth which is immortal in thy existence. This 
places thee above the earth. This power is God within thee, 
quickening and bringing into life thy spiritual perceptions. 
God, our Father, the Creator of all, is a spirit, is Spirit. He 
made all, and therefore all must harmonize in goodness. 

Now, therefore, whether thou delve in the earth, or search 
in spiritual things for eternal wisdom, there is reward for thee 
as thou hast earned. 

Turn thou to that inward source of worlds. Is it not more 
noble to create worlds than to be created by them ? Is it not 
more noble to govern the outward than to be governed by it ? 

There is a light within thee which shineth brighter than a 
thousand outward suns. It revealeth all hidden things. It 
createth all things, outward emblems and inward truths. All 
things are in his light rendered plain, clear, and lovely. Is 
this not truth ? Hast thou not seen this light ? Has it not 
shone upon thy chaos, and did not myriad worlds spring into 
existence instantly ? And wert thou not ruler over them ? 

And is this light animal in nature ? Can thou produce it at 
will, or destroy it at pleasure? Oh man! thou knowest not 
thy power, nor yet thy weakness. 

Thy happiness doth increase or diminish in proportion as 
thou art governed by this light. This is the power which 
guideth the children unto their Father. This giveth them 
knowledge of happiness above and beyond the world. 

The looser thy hold is upon the outward, the nearer art thou 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 267 

unto true happiness. The animal hath no comprehension 
beyond the earth. 

Thou can receive no lasting good from anything which 
decays. Thy nature is eternal. The truths which sustain 
thee and thy spirit are the same which sustain thy Father in 
heaven. 

Thou dost eat at his table. Thou art his child. How 
barren is the earth to thee ; it is a barren desert unto thy 
spirit. Thou dost hunger and thirst, and it cannot fill thee. 
Thou art buried in its shifting sands, and beaten against its 
rugged rocks, scorched by its suns, and thy -feet are ragged 
and torn, but above all this thy spiritual body walketh heaven- 
ward. 

Is it possible for man to gain this high standing ? Is it 
possible to daily crucify every outward feeling, every fleshly 
desire ? To arise every morning with the light, and walk only 
as it is made manifest ? Is it possible for man to carry 
earthly cares, yet enjoy holy peace and happiness ? 

It doth appear unto me that no man hath ever fathomed the 
most sublime depths of man's nature. What it pleased God 
to make man himself knoweth. The hidden things of the 
earth some find, and reveal their beauties and usefulness. 
Others seek the far-off bodies of space, and study their laws 
and nature. Others leave all outward things, and in the 
depths of thought find their heaven. 

And let us search on the mountain or in the valley, in the 
ocean depths, or among the bright worlds mirrored in its 
transparent waters, still above, around, in us, over all is that 
One, that life-giving presence we ever call God. 

Thus to thee, thou center of all goodness, do all aspirations 
tend. Thou drawest our spirits homeward by the gentle cords 
of perfect love. And thou dost light us that we need not 
stumble. Surely this burden of flesh should be easily carried 
with such help as thou givest. It is. But what man can 
always remember thou art near ? How often we worry under 
a load that, with this remembrance, would be rendered light 
indeed. 

All of man's power lies in his spirit. That is the central 



268 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

shaft whose motive power is God. Animal strength and 
animal courage are imparted by God through natural laws, 
but spiritual strength and spiritual courage are above the law. 

What thou dost eat of the earth doth not impart spiritual 
strength. Clothe thee in perfect garments. Let God's love, 
like a coat of heavenly mail, fall around thee. Toward him 
thou art journeying. Light attracteth light. 

Thou requirest both faith in God and good works. Thou 
requirest the light of wisdom, and the love which knoweth not 
itself. Thou requirest truth. But above all these dost thou 
require his daily communion with thy spirit. All these 
things thou can have, and if he is afar off thy happiness is 
imperfect. 

It is his divine presence which quickeneth all. If he depart 
from us, these attributes of his nature weaken in us instantly. 
One instant we feel strong and steadfast in the light of truth, 
and the next we fall, because in losing humility we have closed 
our ears against his voice. 

He is not an arbitrary master. Our ways are so imperfect, 
and our understanding so small, that we cannot comprehend 
what is best for us. If thou have faith in God, let it come 
through a good understanding of his ways. Do not. profess 
faith in his goodness until thou strive to be good. 

Do not make thy faith to be noisy and hollow as the drum. 

Blind faith is no ornament unto man. Faith void of under- 
standing is dead. Of what avail to say thou believest in 
goodness, if thou strive not to be good ? How dost thou believe 
God doeth right always, if thou strive not to imitate him ? 
Such empty profession would seem foolish unto man ; how, 
then, must it seem unto perfection ? 

It is hard for man to believe those things which have not 
been realized, to a certain extent, in his own experience. 
Understanding is the surest foundation for faith. Thou must 
understand some little of God's goodness before thou canst 
have faith in his power. Thy faith groweth with thy compre- 
hension. How can thou believe any given idea to be correct, 
unless thou know something of it ? 

Faith hath no elevating power of itself alone. Faith to 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 269 

elevate man must grow out of his understanding, and cling 
with confiding trust unto his Father. If man have no faith in 
God's goodness, does it not therefore exist ? And if he have 
faith that God is not good, does he therefore change ? 

Thou dost not measure goodness unto God ; he measures it 
unto thee : and, have faith as thou will, he changeth not. 

Get thy faith on a solid basis. Open thy eyes to the light 
when thou would worship Gpd. Saying thou hast faith in God 
will not render him blind like unto thee. 

Of what value can thy faith be unto God ? is he not perfect 
without it ? Is thy faith necessary unto his happiness. 
Understanding of his goodness and love produceth faith there- 
in. All faith, to be of value unto man, must be experimental. 
God's truth is practical. 

If thou do no good deeds thou hast not faith in God, no 
matter what thy tongue sayeth. 

Doth he not produce all goodness ? Are not all things 
his ? all wisdom and all truth ? Does he not know us just as 
we are ? Then what folly for us to continually call upon him 
to look at our hypocrisy. Let us not strive to make ourselves 
less than we would be if we strove not. 

If thou hast faith in God, get thee to work. He hath need 
of such on earth. Thy tasks shall be pleasant, and thy reward 
great. Oh if thou hast indeed faith in him through an under- 
standing of his goodness wrought in thee by thy own exer- 
cising of his pure attributes, thou art indeed blessed. 

If thou hast this faith, thy whole earth is overcome and 
moved from thy pathway. Mountains depart at thy bidding, 
and thy mind ariseth free, clear, and strong. Light, the right 
arm of God, cleaveth asunder all obstacles, and thou journeyest 
on in wisdom toward the land of perfect love. 

Be not cramped or bound by anything any man hath ever 
said. When God made thee to be man, he made thee second 
only unto himself. He will never ask thee what another 
taught, but how thou didst act. Another's faith does not 
affect thine. God is capable of drawing all lines of distinction. 
Light measures thee perfectly. 

Faith is a good friend when rightly secured, but it is a 



270 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

follower of wisdom. He who hath enduring wisdom will have 
faith in God. Unguided and unguarded faith leadeth astray. 
Seek only for goodness, and thou wilt seldom get astray. 

Confidence in our heavenly Father begets a tendency to 
imitate his ways as they are rendered plain unto our under- 
standing. All wisdom surrounds man ; he cannot get beyond 
or above it. The light of wisdom penetrates his soul, and 
prompts him unto good deeds and acts of holiness. 

Do not confound goodness with liberality ; they are not 
necessarily alike. Goodness always groweth out of God's 
love : liberality may spring from man's vanity. He who giveth 
a mite in perfect love giveth more than he who would give a world 
without the love. Goodness and enduring charity go hand in 
hand. Liberality is ofttimes seen in company with the lower 
passions of man's nature. 

Aim high, thou son of God. Stoop not to the base things 
of earth. Learn to look upon all of man's doings as only 
worthy in proportion as they are good, and thou wilt become 
very independent of him. Not that thou should keep aloof 
from thy brother — far from it. Thou should love him, and in 
love assist him onward toward perfection ; but the way to do 
this surely is to act only in accordance with his Father's 
promptings within thee. 

Of thyself thou cannot render man happy. Thou may 
help by administering goodness unto him, but within himself 
must he look for happiness that is enduring. 

Thou cannot feel for him, neither understand for him. 
His joy thou may witness but cannot feel. 

Keep in thy own sphere of action ; God doth not call thee 
to act for another. If thou be true unto thyself, thou art as 
near right as thou can be. Within thee is thy sphere of action 
made manifest. Thou can better serve God in quietness than 
in turmoil. 

There is no harmony for man save that which results from 
each one keeping strictly within his own place. The instant 
thou judge another, and strive to guide him, that instant art 
thou wrong. How dost thou know what is his duty, or how 
he fulfills it ? 



THE HEALING OF THE NATION-. 271 

Do thou purify and exalt one man, and thou hast done a 
great and good deed. Lot that one be thyself. Do not get 
in haste to do God's will ; perhaps thou dost not see clearly. 
Better wait awhile than act too soon, especially if not clearly 
and coolly convinced thou art right. And even if thus con- 
vinced, thou may be very wrong indeed. Therefore be chari- 
table to thy brethren. 

Whatsoever the Father hath for thee to do will be rendered 
plain unto thyself, not others. Be not guided or governed by 
man, neither guide nor govern him. If men choose to quarrel, 
it is themselves that lose. 

Be not like the hurricane, which tears the forest to pieces, 
laying waste everything in its pathway ; but rather be like the 
warm sunshine, which nourishes every flower and tree into 
new life. 

Light and love in the spirit of man do their work in quiet- 
ness and peace. It is their mission to overcome the raging 
passions of the animal, and guide it unto a noble manhood. 

Even as the sun riseth in the morning, so riseth the light- 
in man. It cometh up out of the darkness at the sound of 
God's voice. It shineth in man, and his vision is clear. It 
revealeth, and he understandeth. And with the understanding 
cometh a feeling which is love. 

This is all inside of man, in the inner depths of his spirit. 
where no man can see or hear, where none can make afraid. 
Thou dost look toward God^ and the light is too great for thy 
spirit to bear. Thou art dazzled, but not enlightened, by 
his great purity. Sufficient unto thee is the fullness of thy 
measure. 

If filled with light and love, thou art in heaven. 

Seek thy Father, oh spirit of man. Search for him every- 
where and in all things ; at all times and places listen for his 
voice. His counsel is perfect, and his wisdom pure. He is in 
all places where thou art ; in all thy thoughts, and seeth every 
action. Be not afraid, but learn to love his company. 

Do not expect God to be governed by thy appointment.-. If 
thou go to a certain place to worship, must he therefore mani- 
fest himself unto thee ? Can thou order him to meet thee in 



272 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

an outer temple to receive thy homage ? And if thou order, 
must he obey ? 

If he have countless millions of children, art thou better 
than any other of them ? There is great difference between 
worshiping for the good opinion of man and worshiping God 
in humility of spirit. 

If thou worship in spirit and in truth, what matter about 
the body ? If thou worship in spirit, thy body almost loseth 
consciousness ; thou carest not for it while enraptured in the 
visions which light revealeth. If love warm thy spirit, thou 
art above the body and the place it is in. 

If love and light are not in thee, thou cannot worship God. 

If thou love not, thou cannot be a disciple of perfect love. 
And if light hath not illumined thy spirit, darkness is in thee, 
and thou art not a disciple of the light. 

If light guideth thee unto thy Father, love doth reward 
thee. Love filleth its votaries with happiness. These lasting, 
eternal essences, emanate from Deity, our Father in happiness. 

What is God ? Every man almost hath asked himself this 
question. It is said, " God is love," and it is true God loveth, 
but love is not God, for every man knoweth it must have a 
cause. Love bringeth the feeling of his presence. Without 
love we can never know him. 

God cannot be material, for all matter changeth, and per- 
fection cannot change. Unto every man he is the fullness of 
his highest conception. That which light revealeth is unto us 
part of him. 

We cannot know what he is, for we cannot get above and 
beyond ourselves. When we would worship him, let us re- 
member that all is known unto him long before we speak. 
And it would be well, perhaps, to say as little as possible. 

Reduce thy life to the simplest possible state. Let all thy 
actions be truthful. Love all mankind with a love above the 
doing of little things. Be guided each day by the light thereof. 
Be honest, just, merciful, and generous ; and, above all, be 
thou charitable. 

If thou thus live in thy daily life, w r hat need thou say unto 
thy Father with thy tongue ? Is he blind that he cannot see ? 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 273 

or deaf, that he cannot hear ? When men are seeking forms 
in which to worship God, do thou walk away, for verily he is 
not there. 

He cannot be worshiped by rule, for he is above all law, and 
so is the spirit of man. The body, which alone is subject unto 
law, cannot worship God at all. The spirit doeth worship, but 
the body knoweth not God. Matter is lighted by the outer 
light of the sun, but spirit is subject unto God's own wisdom 
revealed by his light within. 

If thou would worship God, act nobly. Thy voice is no 
better than the voice of the wind which bloweth. Thy tongue 
is flesh, and cannot worship in spirit. All it can do is to give 
words to feeling. If the feeling come from the fountain of 
purity, all wisdom and all love, there will be no words found 
which will embody the feeling. 

Let thy body be subject unto thy spirit, and thy spirit 
subject unto the guidance of thy Father's spirit, and thou wilt 
worship him intelligently. Be led into no excitement, for 
therein charity dwelleth not. Thy zeal will never increase thy 
own understanding, or thy brother's good. 

Thou art very imperfect, and perhaps thy zeal is wrongly 
directed. Thou may see almost clearly some great truth, but 
can thou therefore show it as clearly unto a brother ? His 
light cometh from God, not from thee, therefore thou to him 
art in the dark until the two lights perfectly harmonize. Do 
thou know that thou lovest thy brother, no matter whether he 
know it, thou art recorded in the light of heaven. 

Do good unto all mankind, for all are brethren, all are 
children of the great one. Do unto all as light and love shall 
guide, and thou givest credit unto God. This is praise which 
causeth thanksgiving in the spirit of man. 

Be not empty and noisy in thy profession, but be humble, 
and let charity dwell in thee. Never let excitement cover thy 
judgment. Thou art in eternity now ; there is no occasion to 
load thyself with useless cares, they bring no strength, but 
rather weakness. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

WHAT IS GOD— SPIRITUAL CAPACITY— HEAVEN EVER PRE- 
SENT—GOD'S KINGDOM WITHIN — TIME PRESENT ETER- 
NITY. 

Oh how little we know of our Father ! His light refineth 
our understanding, and his love giveth us peace and happiness. 
His truth is our daily staff, and yet we know nothing of him 
above the fullness of our little measure. 

We each one measure and build our God, and then do wor- 
ship. This is not God the eternal and unchangeable; it is only 
our image of Him which goeth on before our earthly nature 
even as a pilot hunting out for us the safe and sure way unto 
that' higher state of wisdom and purity we are all seeking. 

We all do know we have an inward power of discernment 
which revealeth unto our understanding truths of an inward 
nature : truths which have no connection with the outer bodies 
of the universe. 

Can thy eye see light ? Can thou see love ? Can thou see 
charity ? Yet are not these nobler than rocks, or trees, or 
rivers ? Is there not an inward eternal world of virtues, of 
which God is the central sun and we are all rays of his 
glory ? 

Is there not an eternal world of goodness within ? We 
dwell among shadows on earth which measure time. In that 
immense world, or state of existence, there is nothing which 
can be measured. Who can measure love ? or lay boundaries 
unto the light of wisdom ? or limit perfect charity? 

In the outward all things are emblems of truths which are 
within. A tree or rock is living out, and making manifest 
some great truth within them. The outward is but the refuse 
matter of the inward. However lovely the outward may 
appear, it changeth and passeth away, for thus is its mission 
fulfilled. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 2 i O 

The earth and all heavenly bodies are of no value compared 
with an upright, holy man. Within him are essences which all 
this bright array of worlds cannot produce. They have no 
spirit. This is the seed of man, planted in him by God him- 
self. It is in harmony with all the nobler qualities of the 
divine nature. 

Oh man ! when thou askest what is God, it w T ere easier to seek 
to know what am I ? What thou knowest of God is what thou 
knowest of thyself. Thou can gain no exalting knowledge of 
him by those things- outside of thee. Of what value is as- 
tronomy to the ox ? or chemistry to the ass ? It is man, the 
son of God, within thy nature, which all things refineth. 

If thou knew all of truth, would truth be any less ? Thou 
may be full of light, and yet cannot measure one particle of it. 
Thou may love purely, and yet waste none of thy spiritual 
strength. 

If thou take an outward substance to build an outward 
object, thou must change it; but when thou takest unto thy- 
self any divine quality with which to enlarge thy wisdom or 
capacity of happiness, then thou must change. Herein is 
seen the difference between the outward and the inward ; the 
inward being eternal and unchangeable, and the outward being 
continually changed. 

Thou spirit of man, cling unto those bright worlds revealed 
by light and love. Thou wilt therein be shown beauties which 
change not. Herein dwelleth the Father, and thou shalt see 
and know this to be truth. Thou shalt know what it is to be 
man, the son of God. Man, the child of earth, dies ; but man, 
the son of God, liveth forever. 

When the divine light shineth upon thy spiritual nature, 
then thy nobler qualities spring up, blossom, and bear fruit. 
Even as the outward sun draweth life from out the earth, so 
doth God's light and the warmth of his love draw out of thy 
spirit brotherly love and charity, and they grow, and bear fruit 
which are most acceptable unto all. 

These are great shafts whose branches spread far and wide, 
and the fruit thereof is never wasted. If thou love thy brother, 
thou art benefited as much as he. The inward fruits are pure 



276 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

and perfect. If thou art full of them, thy actions will be 
noble and self-denying, proving thee to be in harmony with 
goodness. 

When thou dost become in harmony with goodness, thou art 
in harmony with all things noble. There is no true nobility 
separate from the Father. He createth all. Thy power of 
self-government cometh from his goodness. He hath set thee 
apart from himself with powers which thou can control. He 
is the head, the ruler, the supreme all-pervading power ; thou 
can comprehend thy measure of his power, and over that 
measure thou art the ruler. 

Thou hast thy outward universe, and thy inward cause. 
Thou hast the sun, moon, and stars, revolving around thee in 
harmony with those which revolve around him. Thy body is 
influenced precisely like the earth whence it came, and thy 
spirit is influenced precisely as the Spirit whence it came. 

Thou hast so much of God in thee that thou can reject his 
spiritual influence at will. But in rejecting his influence 
within thee, thou art acting far worse than if thou should not 
permit thy body to take food produced from the earth. 

It is very essential unto thy well-being that thy whole nature 
should be in harmony with the divine nature. 

If thou transgress an outward law, suffering teache'th thee 
the law. If thou violate thy duty, as revealed by the light of 
God's spirit within thee, thou wilt surely lose capacity for 
receiving light. 

There is nothing so noble as doing God's will. All that 
can exalt thy nature beginneth within thy spirit. What can 
be so pure as that which he wills for thee to do ? Thou art his 
child. What wert thou before he created thee ? and what 
would thou be without him now ? 

His will produced thee. The time was when thou wert not. 
That time hath ceased forever. Thou art one atom of the 
universe. Thy earthly atom leaveth not the earth. Thy 
spiritual atom leaveth not the presence of the Spirit whence it 
came. 

There are two vast universes around thee, and thou art in 
affinity with both. The one is Time's universe, in which thy 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 277 

body lives, and which is composed of matter of which thy body 
forms one atomic part ; the other is the eternal universe, in 
which thy spirit liveth, forming one little particle thereof, 
separate and distinct from all others. 

Of this inward universe God is the central sun, and his light 
and love are as necessary unto thee in spirit as are the outward 
light and warmth to thy body. It is only the amount of these 
divine essences which thy spirit concentrates within itself which 
makes it known among the multitude. 

Thou hast a certain spiritual capacity, which, if filled to its 
extent, maketh thee to shine like a star of the first magnitude. 
No matter how big thou art, but art thou filled ? 

Wisdom is unlimited ; thou cannot hold it all, neither can all 
men combined know all things. God produceth. Man analyzes 
truth, and holds fast to that little which fits him, rejecting ten 
thousand times more than he could hold. That which I hold 
is mine eternally. What thou dost hold is thine forever. God 
is rich in blessings. We cannot rob perfection of its purity. 

Even as the outward planets of the outward universe revolve 
around the outward centers, so do the spirits of men revolve 
or move in harmony in the spiritual universe surrounding 
Deity, the great spiritual center. 

There are suns, moons, and stars among God's children. 

The light of God's goodness illumines the universe. A 
good action shineth in the eternal light. A good thought is 
the pure atmosphere of the soul. Keep away all clouds. Let 
the light shine in upon thee, and beautiful things lasting and 
holy in their purity shall spring up in thee and grow, bearing 
fruit to the glory of the Father. 

In thy eternal progress God's light leadeth the way. Thou 
canst not proceed without it. Thy earth has its swamps and 
quicksands, its stagnant pools and noisome vapors, which can 
only be removed and purified by the inshining of light. 

Suppose the outward earth were deprived of outward light, 
how long could thy body hold life ? All outward life cometh 
from outward light. This is equally true of the inward. Thou 
cannot be man without the inward light. Deprive thy spirit 
of that, and it becomes stagnant. Progression will cease, and 
thou will lose all enjoyment. 



278 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Oh, if man could only believe that there is no enjoyment 
save that which ariseth from goodness, how much more rational 
would be his actions ! 

Thy outward body and all its requirements are good, and 
fruits of goodness when properly directed, but they cannot be 
properly directed, unless thy spirit is in harmony with the 
center of the inward universe. This must be plain unto the 
man of least understanding. 

Thou did not produce thyself, therefore thou art more igno- 
rant of thyself than the one who produced thee, and therefore, 
again, what can thou do sensibly but go to him for instruction ? 
Keep in harmony with thy Father in happiness, and thou wilt 
not get out of thy course in the heavens. Light will guide 
thee, and love reward thee, and truth will dwell within thy 
understanding. 

Now, therefore, do thou study the inward motions of thy 
spiritual body. Seek the truths connected therewith. Search 
with thy taper lighted. All darkness and all light surround 
thee. Between these thou dost move. Light is divine wisdom 
in thee made manifest ; darkness is the want or absence of 
light. 

Ere thou can become a child of understanding God must call 
forth the light in thy soul. The light shineth upon thy 
spiritual chaos, and gradually a world groweth into existence, 
and thou art in the heavenly garden thereof. This is the 
creation of man in the animal. This is thy childhood. Every- 
thing in this garden is lovely, good, and holy to thy childish 
view. 

All things are good and holy herein, but all things are not 
thine, and do not fit thy understanding. Thou must arise and 
assert thy manhood. Thou must search all laws, and all 
material things, and all that is immaterial, for thy share of 
happiness. When the light shineth in thee, then dost thou 
move. 

Thou must take the bitter fruits of knowledge as well as the 
sweet. He is not wise who only knoweth the bright side. All 
truths have a shadow which groweth less as our own brightness 
increases. We are placed at the beginning. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 279 

Thou can learn what is not happiness through transgression, 
but happiness cometh from fulfillment. Outward or physical 
enjoyment cometh from the fulfillment of outward laws and 
relations ; inward happiness ariseth from dwelling in harmony 
with thy Father in spirit. 

Remorse ariseth in the outward from violating outward duties, 
and in the inward it ariseth from sinning against the light. 

Man, unaided, cannot resist temptation. 

Darkness surrounds all flesh. All flesh is darkness in man's 
nature. The divine light is within him, and while he is 
obedient unto its promptings, darkness is far from him ; but 
when obedience ceases, then the darkness of remorse and doubt- 
ing cometh in, for the light hath gone out. 

Of what use is man on earth when he ceases to do good ? If 
thou dost not light thy kind, or love them, or make manifest 
truth, of what use art thou? Animals perform thy outward 
labor, and thou dost not perform anything inward ! Of what 
pleasure can thou be to thy Creator ? 

Oh Father, let thy coming be looked for with pleasure. Let 
us learn to love thy presence. Remove temptation from before 
us. We are weak indeed when left alone, but very strong 
when thou art near. 

Among thy myriad children how very small must one appear ! 
Yet small or large, within thy goodness we are as a drop in 
the sea, or as an atom unto immensity. 

We cannot comprehend perfection, neither can we compre- 
hend our imperfection. He that hath felt thy love hath been 
filled with happiness, but art thou less ? Oh man ! In that 
vast world wherein God dwelleth time is not known. There 
is no night to separate the day of goodness. 

Who can measure thought, or bound an idea ? Who, then, 
kno\vcth what the spirit of man is? One thought, one bright 
idea hath filled thee full of happiness, but not one ray of light 
gone, not one atom of goodness is lost. 

Thus perfection measureth all things, filletli all thing*, is 
above all things, giveth all things; growcth no less, cannot 
wasted. Thus, oh Father, art thou as we understand thee, but 
what thou art words cannot tell. 



280 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

We are, and therefore must be, for in thee we dwell and 
have our being. In thy love cometh freedom, and in thy light 
cometh wisdom. Oh dwell near us, that we may see clearly 
thy goodness. 

Let thy spirit arise, oh man, and journey toward its eternal 
home. Let it increase in wisdom and in goodness, and there 
is nothing in the heavens or on the earth which can obstruct 
its course. Matter cannot come between the spirit of man and 
happiness, if the spirit dwell near the Father. 

Do not look for heaven in the distance. It is not there 
unless thou hast driven it from thee. Let heaven be thy 
every-day happiness. This present moment, if wasted, is lost. 
If thou art not happy now, when wilt thou be ? Is not eternity 
an eternal now? Is not God ever present in goodness, love, 
and mercy ? And if we know it not, are we not losing precious 
hours and days of enjoyment ? 

Let us not lose the present in dreaming of the future or 
regretting the past. Life is real. God is the great life-giver. 
Thou livest in him, and he dwelleth in thee eternally. Thy 
spirit hath free access unto all things. There is nothing can 
its course obstruct while in harmony with the Divine will. 

All is subject unto thy command so far as thou hast wisdom. 
If thou could know all things thou could do all things. Thou 
hast freedom in the truth, and only thus. Wisdom exalts thy 
understanding. It leads into bright and beautiful regions of 
thought. It shows thee the loveliness of truth, and giveth thee 
feeling which is happiness. 

Happiness cometh unto man in wisdom and in love. No 
man hath tasted happiness worthy of man unless he hath 
known that love which cometh with the Father's coming. No 
man can enjoy happiness in ignorance of God's greatness. 

When man's spirit hath enjoyed a draught of pure happi- 
ness, the memory thereof exalteth his nature. It is above all 
animal sensation. Holy and pure, offspring of goodness given 
by God to man, his child, alone. The animal enjoyeth its 
measure in fullness, in ignorance, but man's highest happiness 
must come in highest wisdom and purest love. 

Yes, man, thou wert created to comprehend God's goodness, 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 281 

and in the comprehension thou findest the goodness ; it plays 
upon thy spiritual nerves, and thou art happy — in heaven. 
Wisdom will not stoop to thee, thou must climb to it. If thou 
do fall and stumble again, get up and journey on. Be never 
discouraged. God's goodness is not limited by thy trans- 
gression. 

Honestly seek, and thou wilt find. Be true in thy desires, 
and thou dost enter into affinity with all things holy. Whither 
thou goest wisdom's doors are opened unto thee, and her light 
goeth on before. If thy desires be not for the truth, wisdom's 
doors are shut against thee, and thou has barred them fast. 

All the men ever on earth could not open God's temple of 
wisdom by force. Her doors are not of stone, or wood, or 
iron, or brass. They are of charity, humility, purity, and 
honesty composed, and are too strong to be forced open by 
fleshly desires, yet too weak to resist the humblest, weakest 
child God hath on earth in affinity with him. 

There are privileges for man of which he knoweth not the 
least. Yes, thou son of God, thou wilt yet see the glory of thy 
Father's kingdom, thy own spirit. To thee his kingdom lies 
within thee. Thy aspirations arise in purity of desire for 
goodness, and behold he is there in the goodness which is 
done unto thee. Tempt him not to leave thee. 

Lose not the present moment. There are higher and holier 
truths in waiting for thee. The present is the key of the 
future. Thou can never advance beyond the present. It is 
always with thee, therefore do righteously eternally now, for 
thou hast only this moment. 

The comprehension of Deity perceiveth instantly all, every- 
thing. Present, past, and future are naught to him, for he is 
perfect. 

Time passeth on through thee, and if thou art true unto 
thyself, its waters nourish thy being into larger and stronger 
growth. It runneth out into the vast ocean of eternity — God's 
eternal now. 

Time, like a river, floweth on, and on forever. Man divides 
it, measures it, and maps it out, and it goeth on unheeding him 
and his as though he were the veriest atom in the universe. 
19 



282 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Time is the present of eternity. Our eternal experience 
commenced in the time of our first understanding. As time 
rolleth on, our memory collects out of its flowing waters bright 
gems of wisdom, sparkling truths, and hallowed feelings, and 
they are stored away in our central storehouse, with us now 
and forever. 

Hold fast unto nothing but that which thou knowest to be 
truth. If ten thousand men say thou art wrong, are they 
therefore right ? God is no more in ten thousand than in one. 
Thou stand by thy light, and they cannot move thee. They 
cannot light thy spirit, neither can they darken that which 
God maketh light. 

Time maketh truth manifest in the outward. And as it goeth 
on we learn that outward truth is beneath the height to which 
man's spirit is capable of soaring. Thou wilt find no eternal 
happiness in time. All relating unto time is measured and 
weighed, and governed by outward laws. 

It is thy rudimental school. Thou learnest thy connection 
with all the outward universe while dwelling on earth. 

God is in time as well as eternity, but when he teaches thee 
thou receiveth truth which time cannot affect. His lessons are 
ever present around thee, and the outward objects of time are 
the outward examples by which the inward cause is proven. 
But that which thou dost receive from the lesson is thine for- 
ever, and will remain unsullied by time. 

In time or eternity, on earth, or after thou hast left it, thou 
art the son of God and the ruler over thy own destiny. Guide 
thy bark with care. In the fast-flowing waters of time there 
are numberless barren islands, and rocky cliffs, which will 
wreck thee most surely if thou heed not the light. 

Above the dashing waters shineth the light, rendering plain 
unto thy vision the dangers which lie below. Mark it well, 
and heed its guidance, for it alone can save thee. God's light 
placed upon the outer shore of time to guide his children 
home. 

Outward truths are good, and their nature holy and pure. 
But they are stationary examples of God's goodness. It is 
within thee that they become eternal. Thou dost add unto 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 283 

them thy spiritual perceptions, and they assume in thee eternal 
life, becoming part of thy spiritual wisdom. 

If thou use them not thus they die with thee, so far as thou 
art concerned, and thou wilt find at death that thou art very 
small indeed in the spiritual presence of Deity. If thou art 
not familiar with the light, how can thou see ? 

Time, and all it governs, change and pass away. It con- 
stantly rejects thee. Thou may cling unto its objects, and 
they perish in thy grasp. Thou may worship its idols, and 
they are broken in pieces before thee. All things seem to 
say, " Thou son of God, come not to us for comfort or wisdom, 
we die in the present, thou livest forever." 

When thou dost descend unto the animal sphere of action, 
where, then, is God's son in thee ? Can thou reduce spiritual 
light or holy love unto animal instinct ? Nay, verily. When 
thou dost strive to do thus, thou art rapidly descending in thy 
course, and light is fast becoming obscured by the darkness of 
thy outward world. 

Every outward truth hath its shadow, but in God's truth 
there is no shade. Purity is transparent, but impurity is dark. 
The light shineth upon thee, and thou dost send forth bright 
rays in honor of Him whose is the light. If the light shine 
not, thou art no more than an outward animal, the veriest 
slave of time. 

Thy will, oh Father, be done. Let not our darkness repel 
thy light. Let us shine in thy firmament as enduring stars, 
giving unto thy truth and thy goodness all glory. Were 
we perfect we would cease to be, for thou art all perfection. 

Our oneness cometh from the earth. Our darkness revealeth 
our individuality. It separates us from the great center. The 
light shineth upon us, and immediately we are revealed unto 
the Father of light and love precisely as we are. 

On earth darkness bringeth us our rest, outward and inward. 
We are regulated in such manner that we cannot consume our 
being. The father is continually making within us new worlds 
of wisdom or love out of our chaos — that part of us which is 
dark, void, or earthy. 

When He says, "Let there be light" in our spirit, how the 



284 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

clouds recede, the waters move back, and the dry land appears. 
And upon its surface come forth first the least truths, simplest 
forms of life : little vegetables so trifling that they cannot 
nourish life in man. 

As light increases, all the land upon which we dwell becomes 
covered with beautiful truths, pure love dwells with us, and we 
shine in happiness. 

But the night cometh. We all have darkness in our being, 
for we are all imperfect. In the night we strive to act of our- 
selves, unaided by the light, but we stumble and fall. This 
is the darkness of our nature, relying too securely on our own 
wisdom. We had nothing before the beginning ; we are not 
self-creative, and we can only receive wisdom of him who 
made us, for he alone can know what is necessary unto us. 

He alone knows what light we will bear, what love we can 
feel, and what truths will suit our understanding. We regulate 
our capacity by faithfulness. We receive from perfection per- 
fectly. That which is received blends with our imperfection, 
and we grow in proportion as we receive. Blessed is he who 
receiveth humbly and thankfully. 

He who carries out faithfully in every day action those duties 
which are made manifest by God's light in his spirit, is an 
ornament to the name of man. He is in spirit what the sun is 
in the outward universe. Others will shine from light of God 
through him reflected. He giveth light and w r armth to the 
spirits around him. He is a staff to the weak, and companion 
to the strong. He is all God's earthly child can ever be. 

God doeth good, and that continually. He is thy noblest 
instructor. None other can learn thee rightly. None other 
made thee. Thou art one ; once wert thou made, and by one 
alone, who is called God. He is one and indivisible ; perfect. 
In Him is all wisdom created, all love centered, and all truth 
contained. All which thou knowest not is in his wisdom plain 
and clear. 

He is above and beyond all, yet stoopeth to answer thy 
sincere prayer. Guideth myriad worlds, and thy faithful steps 
as well. 

His love cementeth heaven in one pure happiness, and it is 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 285 

in thy little spirit now with one drop of its great joy. His 
truth is himself made manifest in all things, in outward worlds 
and inward glory. His word is in thy spirit heard, low, soft, 
and tender as the very life of all love. 

Thus thou believest Him to be, oh weak man ! Thus dost 
thou portray his perfection ! Oh, knowest thou not this is 
what thou wilt yet become ? Where will eternal progression 
lead thee, if faithful in well-doing ? God is God. What more 
can thou know ? Thou feelest Him in thee, but the feelings 
are thine. He gave thee power to feel, and that which pro- 
duced its action, but it all lies within thy own imperfection. 

What, then, wilt thou follow ? Follow truly thy own highest 
idea of God, and, no matter what he is or where, thou wilt 
never go far astray. The noblest on earth is a true man — one 
true unto his own inward nature. He is as much above the 
earth as is the Creator above him. 

Learn to be faithful unto what thou believest to be His will 
concerning thee, and thou wilt shine in spirit as the sun in the 
firmament. Thou wilt bring forth light and life from darkness. 
Chaos will shape new worlds at thy command, and they shall 
bear fruit in honor of God. 

All truth which thou knowest not is chaos unto thee. God's 
light shineth in thee, and life cometh forth new, clear, and 
beautiful. Is not this true ? Without his quickening power 
illuminating thy spirit thou art but an animal. If his light do 
not act on thy perception, thou cannot see. Thou cannot 
create wisdom. 

Thou art indeed a great and grand problem. Containing 
the highest light and lowest dust in thy being, capable of holy 
communion with God, yet inheriting all passions common unto 
the lowest animals on earth. Thou hast the highest tone of 
heaven and the lowest tone of earth blended in thee. There 
are essences of myriad worlds in thee. How else could thy mind 
receive parts of all truths, from the least unto the greatest ? 

Thou, as son of God, art heir unto all wisdom. Wisdom is 
God's throne. Upon it he sits, and at his feet art thou. Upon 
his right is Love, and upon his left hand is Mercy. His staff 
is Justice. 



286 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Light beameth from his countenance in brilliant streams of 
inspiration. Around his throne are assembled the spirits of 
just men made perfect in manhood. His light, his love, his 
wisdom and truth, are their daily bread. They hunger not, 
neither do they thirst, for he is there. 

Strive on, strive on, thou earth-clad spirit. Never weary in 
well-doing. Remember thou art eternal in nature, and eter- 
nally the son of God. Whatever thy trials or crosses on earth, 
bear them with a strong spirit, strong in thy Father's love. 

Remember, love is thy Father's happiness. Thou art very 
near unto him when acting in real forgetfulness of self. When 
thou dost simply carry out in love that which his love hath 
required of thee. 

The road to happiness leadeth through man, and on toward 
God. Each one hath his own road. It hath its own signs 
and marks, which none else can understand. 

Thou drawest thy children homeward, even as a mother's 
love draweth her child. Blessed are they that heed thy voice. 
Blessed indeed are they that feel thy love in their inmost 
spirit. They are not only happy themselves, but strive in the 
fullness of divine love to impart happiness unto all others. 
They know all men as brethren, all as children of their Father, 
and they are happy in aiding them toward him. 



CHAPTER XXV 



GOD MAKETII NO PROFESSION— PURITY OF LANGUAGE— THE 
SPIRIT'S VOICE— CHARITY— TRANSGRESSION— GOOD IN- 
TENTIONS. 



When love dwelleth in the spirit of man, his wisdom is tem- 
pered with humility, his judgment with mercy. There is nothing 
great but goodness. There is no higher title than man, the 
son of God. No man can be more than this. He dwelleth in 
the Father, and the Father in him. Seek no resting-place be- 
tween thee and God. There is no other being who can guide 
thee. Thou cannot enter the presence of God until thy own 
eyes have become accustomed to the light of his countenance. 

This light emanates from him, and reaches thee wherever 
thou art. Thou must learn it in little things. Thou must 
begin at the beginning. Remember his staff is justice. Thou 
can only see with thy own eyes, and the light of thy eye in- 
stantly reveals thee as thou art, and places thee where thou 
dost belong. 

Therefore judge not a brother, which thou art incapable, but 
strive to shine in thy own light. Wisdom groweth in thee as 
thou growest in the outward. Let judgment keep pace with 
wisdom and let love and mercy go on before. And when thou 
art judge, remember charity. 

Write thy name in good deeds in the book of life eternal. 
Let it shine even in the presence of Deity, as one who dared 
do good even though opposed by all the earth. 

Thy spirit is even like unto the diamond. Thou must have 
the earthy natures removed from thee, and be polished well 
before thou wilt shine in the true light. Every man hath a jewel 
within him, which will reflect one bright ray of his Father's 
glory, if he be cleaned and polished well. 

Let every one attend unto their own duties. All the disorder 
and confusion in the world among men, arise from men leav- 



288 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

ing their own work and striving to do that which another's 
duty requireth. 

Man's light cometh from within, and he must clear away the 
obstructions, so that it can flow outwardly and do good to man. 
If any man profess much to thee, go thy way — he will not 
practice. God maketh no profession. Thou needest no mask 
to deceive man, and Him thou cannot deceive. What satisfac- 
tion can there be in hypocrisy? Why live continually in fear? 
Why seek to wear clothing which is not thy own ? 

Have faith in thy own manhood. Thou art a man, who is 
more ? 

This faith leadeth thee directly toward the Father, for all 
true manhood has its foundation in his attributes. 

If thou hast faith in thy own spirit, hinder it not from ob- 
taining true knowledge. Go forward trustingly. If thou aim 
high, thou will never despise the little actions necessary unto 
true greatness. God scenteth thy pathway with flowers — are 
not the stars overhead? Pluck the flower — the stars are beyond 
thy reach. 

Truth is strewn around thee in ever-varying beauty. The 
effects of God's love are under thy feet, in thy hand and before 
thy eyes daily, and dost thou see them ? • He tells thee his love 
daily, dost thou hear ? He lights thy eye, dost thou see his 
goodness ? 

Of what advantage are thousands of worlds to thee if thou 
art blind ? Oh man ! knowest thou not that there are thou- 
sands of worlds in thee glowing in all the beauty of divine 
light ? If true unto thyself, thy own exalted manhood, thou 
would find this to be truth. 

All the outward worlds in existence are not worth the sacri- 
fice of God's humblest child. They reveal their truth unto 
• God and thee. They move and have being devoid of conscious- 
ness. They reveal wisdom, yet have it not. Divine light, su- 
preme wisdom controls them, and they prove the wisdom in their 
harmony. 

They go as they are sent. The Son of God goeth whither he 
will. The universe is open to him. He hath the keys to open, 
and none save God can shut. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 289 

Thou cannot seek in vain. Around, above, and beneath 
thee, yes in thy very midst, is God, abounding in love and wis- 
dom ; hast thou the key marked humility ? The unfolding of 
thy spiritual perceptions is much like the unfolding of the rose. 
The light and warmth unfold thee, leaf after leaf, until thou art 
large, sweet, and beautiful in the divine sight. 

Thou art destined to give pleasure unto Deity. Thou art to 
be companion unto the highest. Thou shalt dwell in the man- 
sion thou hast builded in heaven. It shall shine with thy good 
actions. Thy love shall sweeten its atmosphere with kindness. 
It shall be fit for the Father to enter, and commune with thee. 

Thy food shall the fruits of his hand be, and thy fruits shall 
give thy brethren pleasure. Thy joy shall be above mirth, and 
thy happiness be a pleasure to all. Where goodness reigneth, 
joy is handmaiden. 

To bring this heavenly state of being down to earth, thou 
must seek to dwell in love with all mankind and in humility 
with thy Father. 

Remember his goodness in its perfection and do thou re- 
member also thy own littleness in its ignorance, and if this pro- 
duce no feeling of humility, thou art small indeed. Thou art 
no larger than the goodness in thee. That is eternal. 

The fruits of a good thought are the feelings which it pro- 
duceth. This feeling which is thy heavenly happiness is God's 
love, which is earned by the act of thinking. There is some- 
thing in thee, which will tell thee when thou thinkest rightly. 
Thinking is the action of the mind. Thy tongue makes the 
thought manifest unto others, just as thy hand makes mani- 
fest the action of the body. The tongue is the hand of the 
mini. 

Guide thy tongue so that all men shall know purity dwelleth 
in thee. It should be used to proclaim truth. It should use 
and be used by God's word — eternal truth. 

It were a shame to use God's good gifts unrighteously. 

When a thought is formed in thy mind, put it into the bal- 
ance, and if goodness be not in it, keep it at home. There 
are enough errors in the world, add nothing to them. Be in 
no haste to speak, eternity is God's time. He will find place 



290 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

for all which shall illustrate his truth. And if thou speak not 
the truth, there is no room in the universe for thy word. 

Truth is always beautiful, and if the tongue handles it, the 
expression or language should be in harmony. Diamonds should 
never be set in rough or base metal; refined gold of simple 
chastity is much more becoming, it will even add to the rich- 
ness of the ornament. Even so with truth, it may be expressed 
in language which, like base metal, will detract from its value 
and almost weigh it down into the mire. But when pure, 
simple, refined language is used, the truth seems mellowed and 
softened until its rays seem to contain condensed life. 

If the fountain be pure, the stream will be transparent if it 
be not soiled in its passage. If God's light shine upon 
thy brain through thy spirit, forming an idea, the expression 
of that idea, simple and pure should be. It should be like 
the sparkling water to the thirsty man — so beautiful and so 
refreshing that his whole animal nature returns thanks to its 
creator while he drinks. 

So thy brother's spirit drinks thy pure language, and the 
•taste and feeling which he receives is thy idea mingling with 
his higher nature. And the spiritual satisfaction is as great as 
is the animal satisfaction after the cool draught of water so 
much desired. 

Who can measure God's goodness? If we live in harmony 
with him, all is enjoyment. From our highest spiritual per- 
ception down to our least animal want, fulfillment walketh side 
by side with requirement, and in both we have pleasure. Is 
this not true? If not, oh man, thou art wrong. When 
thou dost forget God's goodness, thou dost forget thy own 
happiness. 

Remember always that thou art eternal. Do not speak or 
act as though thou wert an animal. Thy voice, if attuned in 
unison with the voice within thee, is sweet and low. Truth 
must be listened for. Thou need not scream, nor hoot, nor bray, 
nor grunt, to reveal truth, for no man will receive truth who is 
not willing to listen to a voice low and mild. 

When thou dost speak, remember language is thy servant, 
not thy master. Make it do thy bidding. It is not perfect, 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 291 

and never will be, until all the nations of the earth dwell in har- 
mony. Then will the common feeling of love for all, find ex- 
pression in one pure language, which will comprehend all earthly 
wisdom, and soft and sweet, as the murmuring water, will flow 
from one to another. 

To hasten this, be simply a servant of truth, as the light 
shall reveal it within thee. No matter how many theories thou 
advance, the movement of the whole body of men on earth is 
slow. Truth must be understood by man, ere he progresses. 
That is not learned, which can be lost. If thou knowest a 
truth it is thine forever. 

Thou may form one word or one tone in the great language 
which is to be. All God's children shall come home unto him 
and shall understand his word and one another. Where pure 
love dwelleth, there is no need of an interpreter. Does not 
the babe feel the love of its mother flowing out through her ten- 
der tones, long before understanding cometh ? This under- 
standing commenceth in feeling, and voice and language carry 
the feeling. 

Love is nature's great language and truth is its expression. 

Learn to subject thy will unto God's will. Learn to wait for 
the manifestation of his will. Unto him all is plain, unto thee 
all is dark. He knoweth the end by the beginning. His work 
is eternal goodness, perfect in every part. 

Now, therefore, if thy will be in unison with his, thou wilt 
become a servant of his, and thy work will be in eternal good- 
ness, and thy progression will be sure and steadfast in truth. 

Be in no haste to progress. The acorn covered in the earth 
will in time cause an oak to grow, which is great in its strength. 
A weed by its side will grow in rankness and stretch forth its 
leaves, but it is cut down by the first frost of winter. The win- 
ter hardens the little oak and again it collects truths of life in 
the spring. Thus year after year it groweth until its strength 
is most valuable unto man. 

Let thy progression be as the oak progresses from the acorn. 
Rank weeds may leave thee for a season, but they gather from 
the soil only those things which would hinder thee, and in their 
falling and decay they strengthen thee in the truth. The weed 



292 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

gathers what would injure the oak, and leaves its stalk rotting 
to enrich the earth around the base of the noble tree. 

Be true to thy own eternal manhood. Some men may seem 
to leave thee far behind, do not follow them ; be true unto God 
within thee. They may be in the truth, and be giving God 
glory for all they do. They may be most worthy, but thou art 
most unworthy if thou hold unto their skirts. 

Pure love guideth unto all truth. If thou do not love thy 
brother, thou cannot guide him upward. No matter what forms 
or ceremonies thou givest him, progression is not in them, but 
is always hindered by them. There is no form to God's love 
or measure unto his light. They fill and overflow all, save 
him. 

Thou art man. Love filleth thee, and light guideth, and how 
much is God weakened ? As much as the oak weakens the 
earth ! Let thy leaves fall around thee, and thy fruit grow in 
goodness, that the earth may be enriched ; wilt thou not grow 
the stronger ? 

The winter cometh, thou hast trials and temptations, and 
they try thee well. Thy leaves are stripped from thee, and 
thou standest naked in the piercing blast. If the truth is not 
in thee thou art broken as the weed, and must perish. Better 
stay where thou art than to progress only in accumulating 
error. 

What folly to spend a long life in collecting that which the 
cold blast of death will shiver to atoms. What waste of time ! 
Is not God's goodness manifested to thee daily, in every step 
of thy life ? Does he not furnish light unto thy eye, and love 
unto thy heart ? Does he not feed and clothe thee daily ? 
And who art thou that spurn these things ? Reject the coun- 
sel of all wisdom ? Turn pure love to hatred ? Turn thy 
back and walk away when he approacheth ? 

Oh, man, what art thou who do these things ? and what is 
he who beareth with thee in charity toward thy willfulness, and 
in mercy toward thy transgression ? 

Holy Father, let us not hinder thy light in its purity. Let 
us become as little trusting children, forgetting all our own 
nature and clinging fast unto thee. Truly, we are as nothing, 



TIIE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 293 

compared with thee. Our presumption, in its greatness, cannot 
compass thy mercy, and our waywardness cannot get beyond 
thy charity. 

We know not what is for our own good. Do thou direct us 
in all things, that thy cause may be advanced in the earth. Let 
us become living, working men, whose actions shall illustrate 
continually thy goodness. 

Let us receive in humility, and execute faithfully. Let thy 
light guide us, that we may receive reward in thy love. 

When about to do God's will, thy mind and spirit must be- 
come cairn and still. He speaketh within thee in the inmost 
depths of thy being. There must thou go to learn his will. 
That which is required of thee is made plain. All his paths 
are lighted by truth. The voice of the spirit is felt, but never 
heard by outer ears. 

The ear may be deceived by sound, but the spirit of man 
knoweth the feeling called forth by the voice of God within it, 
and will not be deceived. It is deeper, purer, and holier than 
all. Its effect is happiness and peace, followed by thanks- 
giving. 

Thou may listen forever in vain, with thy whole animal 
nature ; thou may wait patiently, during thy stay on earth, for 
the sound of God's voice, and not hear it. The sighing winds, 
the murmuring ocean, the song of birds, and the dreary hum of 
insects, all tell of it ; but unto thee such sound is dead, if 
within thee the Son of God do not dwell. 

Beauty, purity, holiness, love, charity, wisdom — do these 
dwell in thee outwardly ? Of these are thy most refined hap- 
piness composed. These are essences of which the most lovely 
things or voices of earth do not tell. 

Outward beauty or goodness may, through the law of har- 
mony, call up in thy being the refined essence of which it is but 
the shadow ; but if God dwelleth not in thee, thou need look 
nowhere for anything which will give thee lasting happiness. 

These essences and kindred virtues form the atmosphere of 
Deity. These surround thy spirit, when in unison with him. 
They nourish the plants of his garden, even as the outward at- 
mosphere does the outward things of earth. As the sun shineth 



294 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

through the transparent air at noonday, so does God shine 
through all the virtues in heaven. His spirit children grow ; 
and, oh, beautiful thought ! they comprehend their growth. 
They bear fruit of righteousness, and feel the happiness ema- 
nating therefrom. They bear lovely flowers, and comprehend 
that God is pleased with their fragrance. 

All outward worlds are but refuse matter thrown out from 
the inward. Their highest beauties are less to thee than the 
lowest of the eternal truths within. Life is more lovely than 
death. All outward nature is but half alive. Life and death, 
below man, balance. They mingle and blend in all the out- 
ward but thee, thou son of God, and in thee is' his eternal 
life. 

His thou can know, but all below thee are in blessed ig- 
norance. Through thy spiritual unison with thy Father in 
heaven thou knowest the truths of life eternal. Thou knowest 
that life is eternal, and death is not. The animals' eternity is 
the present ; it hath no future hope, and it knoweth not its loss. 
It hath no real loss, for it hath no aspiration or comprehension 
beyond present gratification. 

Thou art lord over the outward, even as God is over the in- 
ward. Thy spirit is as far above animal instinct as is God 
above thy spirit. Thou canst apply all principles of the uni- 
verse, so far as thou knowest them. Thou art only limited by 
want of comprehension. 

Thou wilt find a new field of labor opened unto thee. The 
atmosphere which man breathes must be purified. Wisdom 
must teach him, love prompt him to holy actions, and charity 
mark his pathway with peace. Clear away the outward dust, 
and light will shine forth in strength and beauty. 

Every man hath need of help. Take away outward things 
which die, and give him eternal life. The breath of eternal 
life put in his nostrils. Let him breathe the essence of eternal 
things, and his growth shall be in all the nobility of a true 
manhood. 

Be in no haste. God's is all time and eternity. His truths 
change not, neither do they fade. Thy spirit will learn more 
in silent meditation than in all the discord on earth. Enter 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 295 

thou into the temple of meditation, in a prayerful spirit, and 
thou shalt learn the divine beauty of holiness. 

Purity shall exalt thee, and light guide thee unto wisdom. 
Thou wilt learn why thy Father is worthy of all praise. And 
thy praise shall be the humble outpouring of love. What, then, 
will all the world be worth ? He that hath dwelt in the 
presence of Divinity hath tasted of joys the world cannot 
give, neither take away. 

And when thou leavest the presence, for thou must leave, 
thy heart is filled with charity. Faith and hope are realized, 
but charity worketh unto all eternity. 

Charity maketh clear the path of God. Heaven's highest 
followeth in her footsteps. Charity is love's first fruit. When 
God's love entereth the spirit of man, charity is born, and it 
cleareth the way before him, 

Wisdom, charity, and holiness are found in meditation. 
Purity will clothe thee in a spotless garment. And in the 
works of goodness, wisdom and charity go hand in hand. 

In thy most trivial action, or thought, remember charity. 
Not the charity which only giveth alms, but the charity which 
giveth good-will to man. Learn to love the erring — not their 
errors — but love them unto the removing of their errors. He 
that loveth doeth good. 

Be patient. Thou cannot do all things in one day, neither 
in one lifetime on earth. Do not expect too much. Do not 
value thy own powers too highly. If thou be truly a servant 
of the ever-living Father, thou wilt have enough to do forever. 

Thou hast to learn happiness through experience. If thou 
fly with the eagle toward the sun, thy eye will be blinded in 
the light, and thou wilt fall. True happiness is not caught by 
running, or enjoyed in haste. 

When truly happy thy whole being is tranquil. All excite- 
ment hath died away, and thou art at rest in peace. Happi- 
ness is the result of goodness. It is the peace following a 
good action. 

What proof of God's goodness is herein found ! When thou 
doest well happiness dwelleth in thee. When thou doest not 
well it departeth from thee. When thou doest good thou dost 



296 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

use eternal attributes ; entering affinity with the Father, and, 
in harmony with him, thou dwelleth in happiness. 

The Father doeth good in the past, present, and future. He 
hath no need of learning. All wisdom emanates from him. 
He worketh in silence, and his fruits grow in peace. Do not 
imagine he is fastened in the cage we call the universe. The 
universe, as we conceive it to be, is perhaps some little of his 
work, but unto his mind, how exceeding small it must appear ! 

We trace all wisdom and all goodness from the earth toward 
him ; and when we can go no farther, we stop, and call the 
ending place God. And this is well, for he is the end as he is 
the beginning of every good thing. 

Every rational man knoweth that there must be a cause for 
every effect. Yet, no man can tell whence come his beautiful 
ideas, nor how he derives pleasure from them. These things 
are. We do experience the incoming of light, which revealeth 
instantly some truth, and we know instantly that it is truth, in 
harmony with every truth in the universe, and in this knowl- 
edge, this wisdom, cometh happiness. 

This is the happiness derived from wisdom. There is also 
happiness which cometh from love, and it is sweetest unto man. 
Pure love is that golden chain which holdeth heaven's gems to- 
gether. Pure love has its own language. It speaks without 
noise. Its tongue is silence and its voice still. It vibrates 
along the spirit to the heart, eye, or hand, and it needs no in- 
terpreter. 

Thus we believe God is all goodness, because, in the very 
little goodness we can know and feel, we find happiness and 
peace. 

We were not designed to dwell in the happiness derived only 
from love, else we had no need of the earthly nature. Love is 
our inheritance. It is our nature when we first breathe the 
breath of life. If love satisfied our whole being, we would be 
continually in infancy. 

Wisdom is taught through pain, transgression, and punish- 
ment, and love healeth the wounds. 

Wisdom is the light of love. Without wisdom for a guide, 
love would be blind. It could not see to do a purely good 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 297 

action. It would be liable to go astray. True happiness 
cometh from wisdom and love united. Charity, without wisdom, 
descendeth until the giving of alms is its only labor. Love, 
without wisdom, may do man great injury. 

How great must be God's love, in which dwell all holy 
things ! 

To love rightly, and to do good, we must know how, and 
wisdom teacheth. 

How well our Father hath guarded us ! On every side is 
truth, most stern and steadfast. Within us is light, the essence 
of all consciousness. And following light, and close beside, is 
love. How, then, do we find error ? 

Transgression teaches us wherein to look for error. He who 
would never transgress would never be wise. The power of 
transgression is imbedded in our individuality. Through the 
experience derived from error, the opposite of light, we learn 
the value of wisdom. When our wisdom groweth, then grow- 
eth also our love. Wisdom teacheth that God is good, for all 
that wisdom can illustrate must, in the end, be proven to be 
good. 

There is a penalty for every transgression, and the penalty 
is, thou learnest so much error. Thou learnest from transgres- 
sion that thou art wrong. The danger from continual trans- 
gression is, that thou wilt form bad habits, which hold thee fast. 
There is great difference between willful transgression and 
ignorant transgression. 

He who transgresses God's good promptings within him, 
willfully sins against his own light, and must suffer. God made 
us to be rational beings. It is not rational to not heed thy own 
experience. 

When thou knowest thy duty, do it. When thou knowest what 
thou should not do, that leave undone. He who listens for in- 
struction, keeping his desires pure, cannot go astray. If he 
do commit errors, as judged by others, his good intention hath 
sanctified the deed. 

Good intention precedes good action. He who ignorantly 
does a good action, deserves no more credit than the animal. 
Such goodness is dead. God's goodness is all alive. It bear- 
20 



298 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

eth living fruits, fruits sweet unto man's highest and holiest 
nature. 

Thou, to be in his image in goodness, must have thy inten- 
tions purified first. Never attempt a good action until thou 
knowest thy whole being is in earnest energy toward its accom- 
plishment. 

Limping goodness bringeth a lame reward. Let no food 
spoil in thy hands. Give what thou hast and wait for more. 
God doth not fill the full, but the empty. He giveth, thou 
must spread. The more thou dost give, the more wilt thou 
receive ; and the more thou strive to keep, the less wilt thou 
hold. 

All his attributes are eternal. They live and move forever. 

By the word of God every man represents his own highest 
idea of all holy things. Life, light, wisdom, love, charity, 
mercy — every noble quality, as man's highest nature can per- 
ceive it, we lay at the feet of the Eternal One, as humble 
worship. 

These qualities are all inward and eternal, as the spirit they 
emanate from, and the humble spirit which receives them. He 
is the quickening power. Life emanates from him. He is 
perfect. In his work there is no waste. The most stagnant 
pool hath good qualities, which wisdom would reveal. 

What better can thou lay at his feet than good intentions ? 
He knoweth the end from the beginning, and the beginning of 
good actions is good intention. 

Year after year thou may plant thy seed, and it follows after 
its kind faithfully. This is an outward representation of God's 
wisdom, for it illustrates how he knoweth effects by their cause. 
Every seed knoweth its own soil ; every root extracts from 
earth what it requires, and leaves for others their own. An 
hundred different trees may grow side by side, each one taking 
what it wants for sustenance ; their roots intermingling, and 
their branches waving together, without the least discord. 

Surely God hath beautifully fitted all things together. All 
mankind would mingle in as perfect harmony as does the lower 
world, if they were as true unto their own natures. Let each 
man seek his own, and touch not his neighbor's good. There 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 299 

is but one right way for thy footsteps, and that never inter- 
feres with thy brother's. 

When an idea enters thy mind, one of God's good seeds hath 
dropped in thy garden. He knoweth the soil, the atmosphere, 
and the care it will get, and could tell thee instantly if he 
would. But that which he tells thee is in thy own experience. 
He planteth wisdom seeds, but experience develops the fruit 
that strengthens thee. Surely this is truth. 

His work is inward and spiritual. His great truths are 
dropped as seed in thy spiritual garden. It is thy work to tend 
them unto maturity. Thou may not think that the pleasure of 
receiving the seed, the given idea, is all thou can receive. Of 
what advantage wert thou if thy nature were only passive ? 
Surely there is enough death in the world. 

Clean well thy garden, and when the fruits grow, give them 
unto man. Giving truth freely maketh room for more. God 
doth not inspire an idea into thee for it to die there. 

This is thy use in time and eternity — illustrate God's truth, 
as thou knowest it to be. Thus the fruits return unto him, 
and thus is he glorified. Be a truthful witness of his good- 
ness among men. Be humble and charitable, remembering 
always that what fits thy being perfectly, and therefore seem- 
eth pure truth, will never fit a brother as well. 

The spiritual garden hath been overrun with weeds. Indeed 
a great many of the rankest weeds have been cultivated and 
trained to run on frames and arbors, as though they had 
great value. And many, mistaking their very rankness for 
worth, have cultivated them with a great zeal, they thought 
worship. 

God doth not set up his greatest truths for the gaze of the 
multitude. In each one is his temple, and in that temple is 
his light, which no crowd can reveal, and no solitude darken. 
When a great number come together to worship God, it must 
be done in silence, or will not be done at all. Worship is purely 
individual. 

Man is in eternity. He dwelleth among eternal truths. 
Time may illustrate some truths, but can never deface them. 
Then why devote time and substance to costly forms, creeds, 



300 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

and ceremonies, which, if rightly directed, would feed whole 
multitudes ? 

Surely God's word is only spoken in spirit, and man's spirit 
only can hear it. If it be reduced to outward air, and form of 
sound, it becometh material, and has death in its nature. If 
thy Father in spirit giveth thee a good word — a good idea — do 
not stop to build a house to put it in, or a form to express it 
with, but as thou receivest so do thou give unto others. If God 
give thee a pure image, do not mar its beauty by clothing it in 
filthy garments. 

Be always found at thy post of duty, and never crowd a bro- 
ther from his. To find thy duty go unto thy Father in heaven. 
He will teach thee daily. Thou knowest not the great effects 
of the simplest cause. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

GOOD IDEAS, THEIR EFFECT— GOD'S WORD— SWIFTNESS OF 
GOD'S WITNESS, LIGHT— HYPOCRISY— WARS— SLAVERY. 

Who can trace the effect of one good idea ? Who can map 
out one of God's words as it liveth in goodness on earth ? Thou 
may receive an idea, which, like a sparkling fountain of pure 
water, shall glide down through beautiful meadows, uniting 
with other streams, until one great tide of goodness rolleth on 
toward the ocean of eternity. 

Intelligence shall flourish upon its banks, and love be 
nourished by its waters. Its dews shall nourish the weak, and 
strengthen the strong. The power derived from its descent 
shall feed and clothe the outer man, thus realizing in myriad 
outward fruits all that is or was caused by one good idea 
dropped in the right place. 

The natural course of all truth is from the inward to the 
outward, from the center to the circumference, from God to 
man. In all of man's outward working, in all that he con- 
structs, if his centers are not true to one another, and all true 
to the motive power, he can accomplish nothing. This is out- 
ward proof that man's inward nature must have its center 
under the control of God, as the great spiritual center or mo- 
tive power, or all his works are dead. 

If thy spirit feel a thing to be wrong, it is folly to convince 
thy intellect that it is right. Thou cannot reason away good 
feelings, and it is folly to try. True intellect, pure reason, is 
the illustrator of spiritual feeling, but is never its master. 

All of God's good gifts harmonize. A true man will never 
be misled by misguided reason. So soon as the reasoning 
powers cease to be subject unto spiritual guidance, they should 
not be depended upon. 

The spirit is the main shaft of our being, which is turned by 
God's power acting on its center. Attached unto this shaft 



302 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

are the various organs of the mind, which revolve in unison 
with it, producing thought, desire, and action from the idea 
which hath moved the spiritual center. 

The mind and body are the servants of the spirit in the true 
man. The spirit communeth with the Father in wisdom and 
love. Duty is pointed out unto it, which it points out to the 
hands and body through the instrumentality of the mind. Thus 
a strong chain is formed holding outward consequences fast to 
inward causes. 

And as thou dost faithfully produce good fruits, good effects 
from the idea, the cause, so dost thou glorify God and elevate 
thyself. A good idea made manifest unto man in works must 
elevate his nature. First elevate thyself, and then turn in 
humility, love, and charity, and give a helping hand to thy 
brother. 

Do not pull him, for he will hold back, and dispute every 
step. If thou would elevate a brother, thou must help him 
elevate himself. Thy way will not seem right unto him, be it 
ever so good, and true unto thy own nature. He is different 
from thee, but no man can long resist pure love which mani- 
fests itself in perfect charity. 

No man is ready to be convinced he is wrong until he think - 
eth it himself. If man receive instruction in humility of spirit 
it will do him good. If he be not humble, save thy reason for 
a better opportunity. We must first feel the want of wisdom, 
before we are fit to receive it. 

The ground must be prepared for the seed. If thou would 
receive seeds of wisdom, let the soil of thy mind be turned, and 
all weeds and roots of weeds be taken out, and cast away from 
thee. Get thyself clean, and when the divine light shineth in 
upon thee, it will bring life in everlasting seed. This seed is 
God's word, the only word he giveth to man, and he speaketh 
it himself in the inner temple of man's spirit, where it cannot 
be misunderstood, and where none else can hear. 

The highest word to man revealeth all noble qualities in the 
mind. It shineth upon the organs of the mind, and they emit 
rays of thought, which illustrate the wisdom of the word. 

There is no word of God but what communicates holy ideas, 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 303 

or pure love to man. All matter is musical. Harmony is in 
its nature. It singeth of that great idea which produced it — 
but the voice of God doth not vibrate in matter, for death is 
not in its nature. 

Thou can feel his voice, but never express it. No man hath 
ever sounded its sweetness. Our deepest and purest feelings 
cannot be worded. We seek in vain for word and sound, but 
all are too harsh and discordant, and we dwell in silent joy 
content to feel. 

When man useth only the language of truth and life, when 
love shall dwell in every sound that escapes him, then will 
wisdom find words which shall illustrate man's holiest in- 
spiration. 

As soon as anything outward is held up before man as God's 
word, myriad minds, all having access unto the fountain of all 
truth, commence analyzing it, and if they find any imperfec- 
tion, they know it is not of God. 

There is no imperfection in God's word. We may not at all 
times interpret our feelings rightly, but the feeling is surely 
right which giveth exalted happiness unto our spirit. 

Always remember God speaketh unto thee himself. If man 
name anything which God's word does not harmonize with his 
voice, in the secret of thy own spirit believe it not. Thou art 
guarded well on this point, only be true unto the eternal Father. 

God putteth his word where but one can find it, and that 
one is every child on earth. No two find the same word, and 
no word hath two meanings. All is plain where pure light 
shineth. 

This word produceth no discord between man and man, for 
it prompts to love, peace, and good-will. No man can write 
God's word, neither can any man read it, for it cannot be 
reduced to anything which is perishable. 

All thou can do to save man from error is to illustrate thy 
little part of eternal truth. The plainer man sees the effect of 
truth the more will he seek its cause, and if thou can stir up 
thought in him, thou hast done a good action. When a man 
will think his own thoughts freely, he is progressing toward the 
freedom of all truth. 



304 TIIE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Judgment dwelleth in man, and responsibility sitteth by its 
side. 

Surely the human mind need fear nothing, so long as it keeps 
open the door through which the Father's voice is heard. Keep 
this door open even if all others be shut. Through this cometh 
all good unto thee. The outward is all dead, until quickened 
by thy eternal life. 

In this holy channel floweth heavenly peace. The waters 
of joy wash over thee, and happiness doth clothe thee as with 
a garment. In this state thou can dwell until rested, and then 
thou must labor again. God hath need of servants in his garden. 

He doth clothe man with armor invincible. He giveth him 
eternal life that the fear of death need never stand between 
him and duty. Who so strong as he that knoweth his life to be 
eternal ? The path of duty is so plain, and so easily found, it 
is strange man so often prefers going astray. 

God giveth thee no mission until thou art prepared. He 
sendeth thee upon no journey in the dark. He guideth thee 
by light, and he draweth thee by love, yet hath given thee 
darkness in thy power of rejecting his guidance. 

Thou hast power to ascend in light, and descend in dark- 
ness. Thou can accept, and also reject. 

God's word enters thy soul. Thou art in affinity with him. 
His only book is the book of life, written in characters of light 
upon the tablets of the human soul. His only law is therein 
revealed — the law of eternal love. He maketh plain thy 
duty, and in his love doth strength abide. 

Oh heed well this truth — the light of his love guideth the 
spirit of every man who will receive it. He hath no need of 
any one to stand between him and thee, oh man, for his power 
is unlimited. Dost thou require a mediator between thyself 
and thy child ? Why then should thy Heavenly Father, whose 
nature is revealed in perfect love, require some one to stand 
between him and thee ? 

He writes his command daily in thy inmost being. In the 
outward universe what moveth so quickly as light ? And in 
thy inner being the flashing of the divine light of inspiration is 
quicker than all evil which can befall thee. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 305 

Thou can be placed in no circumstances which will overcome 
the speed of this swift and sure witness of God in thy soul. 
No danger from any outward object, or inward thought, can 
approach thee unknown if thou art true unto God's light within 
thee. 

This light is the life of wisdom, it revealeth all things in- 
stantly. It is in all places, knoweth all things, and doth 
reveal to man his highest good, and his safest pathway. 

As the outer sun lighteth the outer universe, and measures 
time to man, so doth the light of God illuminate the spirits of 
his children with the rays of eternal truth. This light is 
limitless. It knoweth no end or boundary. It is at all times 
in all places. The human soul, when quickened by this life of 
wisdom, hath overcome all things outward, and can dwell in 
harmony with the Father. 

In this flood of light we dwell, move, and have our being. 

In this all things are plain, but man's eyes are weak. The 
eternal flood sweepeth past and around him, but he is anchored 
fast to earth and feareth to embark. 

Thou art right, oh man. Trust not thy bark to the deep 
things of God, until thou hast mapped out the dangers, and 
braced thyself firmly in the truth. When thou hast truth -for 
an anchor, wisdom for a guide, and love to buoy thy bark, 
thou art safe, and can ride out the greatest storm in safety. 

He who is guided by God's word, revealed in his own soul, 
is truly a free man. So long as he depends upon outward 
guidance in eternal things he is always liable to err in judg- 
ment. God's word revealeth eternal and unchangeable truth. 
That which was true in the beginning is true now, and will be 
truth forever. 

When man becometh free from outward bonds, and can sit 
down in silent waiting for the voice of wisdom, he is in condi- 
tion to extend charity and good-will to all mankind. What 
matter to him who truly serveth God how outward circum- 
stances surround him. 

Whereas, he who serveth outward masters, hath continually 
to change to suit circumstances in which he is placed. Man's 
spirit is above all things, which can be reduced to outward form 



306 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

or substance. No truths can be revealed in the outer universe 
so sublime, or so lovely, as those gems of thought which cluster 
around the pure spring of inspiration. 

Ideas are inspired into the human soul, give it substance, 
strength, and labor, and their power is exhausted, so far as 
that soul is concerned. 

All true ideas harmonize with all truth. We might liken 
our highest and holiest ideas unto God's least thoughts. His 
thoughts are perfect, and comparison is in us, but surely ideas 
are created by him, and to us they seem to have different grades 
of perfection, because we are progressive. 

If God useth outward emblems to illustrate his idea of beauty, 
how much good would it do man if his spirit were blind ? And 
if the outward is beautiful to thy outward vision, do not forget 
that thy spirit is the life of that vision, and paints all things 
for thee. 

Thy eye beholds a beautiful landscape, wherein all the ob- 
jects blend in harmony. What is that joy which is thrilling 
through thy inmost being ? Do mountains, trees, and rivers 
produce it ? 

Whence cometh this holy feeling, which raiseth the spirit of 
man above all outward joy and outward pain? What is it that 
annihilates all earthly passion, destroying the animal, and giv- 
ing the spiritual new life and strength ? 

Consciousness of eternal life raiseth man above all unworthy 
actions. He who knoweth his life to be eternal, and God to 
be his Father and companion, is infinitely above all earthly 
wisdom. 

There is no outward knowledge which can satisfy the long- 
ing of the human soul. Its bread of life is not made from the 
corn of earth. Its high ideas, its beautiful thoughts, and its 
holy aspirations have no affinity for anything which grows on 
earth. There are outward emblems of beautiful thoughts, but 
no outward thoughts. 

Surely all things are arranged in perfect wisdom. We are 
as a link between the outward and the inward universe. How 
else could we gain wisdom from both ? We are placed among 
the things of time, and taught their unsatisfying nature. They 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 307 

of themselves drive us from them, shaking off our hold, slip- 
ping from our hands in death. 

We cling to them, and they die ; we love them, and they pass 
away from us. Death is God's whip of many cords, with which 
he drives us from our hold upon outward things. 

We pluck a flower from its stem, and it withers in our grasp, 
sweetening the air with its dying breath. We love a form for 
its beautiful shape and color, and it disappears from our view, 
leaving our spirit sad and weary. Such lessons teach us that 
love's true mission is to bind the spirit of man to the eternal 
truths of his Father. 

Through many sad lessons we learn to live more in accord- 
ance with our Father. He has all wisdom. To become com- 
panions, or worthy children, we must have affinity for this 
wisdom, and to gain affinity for it we must possess genuine 
humility and honesty of purpose. 

All hypocrisy is at war with eternal truth. Hypocrisy is 
the mask of a fool. Who, having the least idea of God's wis- 
dom, would strive to deceive him by appearances ? However 
low thou art, do not voluntarily shoulder this heaviest of all 
loads, hypocrisy. Surely none but a fool would attempt to 
deceive all wisdom. 

The hypocrite may for a time deceive the unwary, but no 
man who hath felt God's light frequently in his spirit will long 
be deceived by such. Hypocrisy is so unnatural, and so at 
variance with all things noble, that the truly noble man is re- 
pulsed by the hypocrite, even though no word be spoken. 

There is inward affinity as well as outward attraction. The 
one results from inward light, and the other results from out- 
ward light, and they are both effects of God's love. 

If thou art true unto thy light within thee, thou can feel a 
hypocrite so soon as he approaches thee. No matter how 
smooth or shining his coat, the smooth cold snake makes thy 
spirit shudder. Every true man knoweth by his own experience 
that this is truth. 

God hath placed guards around us that we know not of, 
until taught by suffering. 



308 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Heed well those truths which thou learnest through suffer- 
ing. They are valuable. They do not lead thee astray. 

It is well also to learn all thou can from the experience of 
others. 

It is well to gather truth from every source. No man can 
know all truth, and therefore it is well to give and also receive 
the fruits of experience, that all may advance in wisdom. It 
is well also to remember that each one who is true unto his own 
internal light is in the best condition to impart help unto others. 

All genuine advancement must come from within. We can 
help one another by revealing our experience, but the answer- 
ing witness within us must speak before we can receive true 
help one from another. 

The first lesson taught by genuine dependence upon the 
Father within us is charity. No man knoweth his own little- 
ness until he hath come into the understanding that God is 
within him, and is not in condition to give charitably, nor 
receive in humility. 

In our vanity is the temple of death. We build stone tem- 
ples, and put in them wooden gods, when we erect outside 
truths into forms of religion. This is the living death which 
weareth rich robes among men, while eternal life feedeth 
among the meek and lowly. 

Build thy temple of wisdom with eternal truths, as thou 
receivest them within thee. All outward works pass away, for 
they breathe death at every inspiration, while the inward works 
of virtue, peace, and good-will to man breathe eternal life. 

See the good man upon the bed of death, and behold his 
happiness in viewing all things outward depart from him. Surely 
there is something in man which cannot die. There is some- 
thing which in the good beholdeth all outward things, and out- 
ward life depart with pleasure. : 

Do thou learn the eternal truths of thy being. This earth 
is very lovely, very beautiful, but is all unworthy of the love 
of God's child. And in proportion as thou art good, in pre- 
cise proportion wilt thou find enjoyment in the beautiful things 
of earth, because thou art in affinity with the very life of their 
being — thy good Father did create them. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 309 

On the other hand, if thou art not in affinity with their 
cause, their lovely lessons are wasted, and they become inani- 
mate. 

Thy nature is eternal, and thy affections should cling around 
eternal virtue and truth. Dost thou not see that thy Father 
hath so regulated the outward things of time that they slip 
from thy grasp continually ? Thou may love an outward form 
sincerely, but thy love cannot immortalize it. It will pass 
away, and thou wilt perhaps in thy suffering learn the folly of 
eternal natures loving things so transient. 

When thou lovest thy children, or thy dearest friend, be 
very careful that no outward passion is blended with thy love. 
Let thy love be sanctified and holy. Such love, if crossed, 
riseth higher and becometh holier, giving thee peace amid the 
severest pain. 

This love raiseth thee above the power of death. He may 
destroy the outward image, but in thy inward temple he cannot 
come. If thy love partaketh of the nature of divine love, death 
cannot harm thee. Time feedeth death with its choicest fruits, 
but in pure love death hath no dwelling-place or food. 

True love clingeth around that high ideal which is God's 
love manifested in man. So long as our love descendeth in 
purity from the divine fountain, we can walk side by side with 
death in perfect safety. From this fountain flows no fear of 
death, for death is one of its humblest servants. 

Behold, oh man, the safety of dwelling in love. 

See how the stars move in harmony. The waters of earth 
mingle in peace. The mountain pine and the meadow daisy 
mingle their song with the tones of the sea. All outward nature 
below animal life, is at peace, doing that which it was created 
to do — illustrate God's love. 

In animal nature cometh war, and hatred, the spirit of war. 

Man hath the height of heaven and the depth of earth blend- 
ed in his nature. All the beauties of both can measure unto 
his full capacity. 

And this noble being is the son of God. Destined to receive 
from the fountain of all wisdom, knowledge that shall fit him to 
dwell with his Father forever. Ideas blossom in the trees and 



310 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

give sweet fragrance to the flowers. Every atom in the out- 
ward universe helps to build the temple of spiritual wisdom, if 
thou art true unto its cause. 

Let no superstition bind thee or hypocrisy clothe thee. Let 
God's light enter thy spirit, and his love dwell in thee. Learn 
to listen for his voice, and when thou nearest his word, do his 
will as it be revealed. 

It is not God's will that man be bound — his body in chains, 
or his mind in ignorance, or his spirit in superstition and bigotry. 

Man is working out his own freedom. God could as easily 
have created man another animal, for His is all power. In 
order to learn all of God's goodness, man must begin at the 
beginning. 

As time rolleth on, dropping century after century into eter- 
nity, one truth is revealed and proven clearly — man does pro- 
gress. 

He has mapped out the heavens and the earth. Hath weighed 
the material universe in his balance, and not found it wanting. 
He has found laws which matter cannot transgress, because 
matter does not progress. 

To progress, man must be continually at war with matter. 
Matter is the dead level of the universe. Man riseth out of 
matter, and goeth upward. Matter clingeth unto him, and he 
striveth to ascend ; here is germ of the spirit of war. 

In the beginning the earth predominates in power, and hence 
man hath sought the good things of earth to make them his 
own, and when two men, or two nations of men, have sought 
the same things, wars have arisen. The stronger have con- 
quered, and the weaker have sought some other place, learning 
perhaps that there are enough good things on earth for all. 

So spiritual ideas have been the cause of quarrels among 
men. One man or set of men, believing themselves right and 
every one else wrong, are well fitted to enforce their belief with 
carnal weapons, and will perhaps devoutly believe they are 
giving God great glory in murdering his children who differ 
with them. 

This all grows out of ignorance, and is in a measure neces- 
sary 'unto man's progress. Did he fully realize that love is 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 311 

more powerful than all the enemies of goodness, he would have 
no need to slay his brother. 

Light and love go hand in hand. In the beginning, when 
wars raged most fearfully, man did not know how to make as 
deadly weapons as he does in the present. As his wisdom in- 
creases, so does increase his repugnance to all cruelty among men. 

There are thousands in the present, who labor against war 
and the spirit of war, in pure love to mankind. Charity is daily 
growing in strength on earth. Charity is war's deadliest 
enemy and suffering's greatest friend. 

Slavery is war's firstborn child. In the outward wars of old, 
men enslaved their prisoners, making them pay Avith life-long 
servitude for being weaker than their masters. Animal strength 
bound and tortured animal weakness. 

The spiritual warfare is precisely similar. That body of men 
who worship any given idea by set forms and rules, soon become 
most abject slaves unto the forms and rules. The spirit of man, 
when disconnected from Deity, clings fast unto its own idols. 

Who knoweth what the right is ? Is it right to slay a brother 
because he differs from thee in opinion ? Is it right to enslave 
his body for thy use? Should he labor, and thou eat the fruit? 
Surely the spirit of war leadeth directly against all goodness. 

Surely it is right to love one another, to teach one another, 
to be charitable, to be upright, candid, and merciful. The fruits 
hereof are goodness, pleasantness, and peace. 

There is no blood required to illustrate charity, nor anger to 
illustrate love, nor bigotry to illustrate wisdom. 

The animal nature still predominates in man, and so long as 
it does, war and slavery must exist in all their different forms. 
The spirit of war cannot exterminate war, neither can hatred 
exterminate slavery. 

Love and charity are undermining these strongholds of vice 
and error. The work must be slow, for it must be sure. They 
can only work in the truth as it is manifested in the light of 
wisdom. The work they do is eternally done. They work not 
in passion, and their works cease not in a day. The victor and 
the conquered, the master and the slave, are all equally con- 
sidered in their daily labor. 



312 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

They cannot use carnal weapons or carnal reasons, for they 
work for God. They steadily gain and surely hold fast all they 
get. They enlighten the spirit of man, convince his judgment, 
and then guide his actions to the accomplishment of their end. 

The mind of man must first be a slave to ignorance of God's 
justice, before he can hold a brother in bondage. Outward 
actions all result from inward emotions. If man's mind were 
enlightened, he would wish for no slaves, for he would not 
assume the responsibility. 

The one who binds his brother is the more abject slave of the 
two. He is ignorant of all noble qualities in his nature, is 
bound by his own passions in chains infinitely stronger than 
those he hath placed upon his brother. He is like unto a swim- 
mer, who would chain a load unto his own neck. 

Spiritual freedom is as far above animal freedom as is the 
spirit above the animal. The greatest animal freedom cannot 
place the animal above the power of death. The dominion of 
the world will not produce happiness. Neither will animal power 
ever restrain animal passions. 

That which ruleth over death and places man infinitely above 
all lusts of the flesh, is the spirit. This spirit draweth suste- 
nance of the spiritual truths of God's spiritual universe. As 
the body requireth outward food and outward rest, so doth the 
spirit of man require daily food from God's spiritual garden. 

Thou cannot draw healthy food from another man's stomach, 
neither can thou draw from another man's brain or spirit God's 
sweetest food. Communion with man without dependence 
strengthens, but all dependence on man's power weakens. Com- 
munion with God at all times strengthens. 

As thou takest thy outward food regularly, in order to pre- 
serve thy health and strength, so should thou take thy inward 
food, in order to keep thy inward strength. 

On earth thy animal powers can dictate thy food, but thy 
spirit cannot dictate unto Deity what food he shall give. 

Keep thy desires humble and pure, and He will see that thou 
hunger not unto weakness. Remember thou art the veriest babe 
in wisdom and if he give thee milk it is because thou art not 
adapted unto anything stronger. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

LIFE— GOD'S WORD, MAN'S SAVIOUR— SPIRIT ABOVE THE 
LAW— VALUE OF GOOD ACTIONS— PERFECT LOVE— THE 
COMFORTER— NO OUTWARD HOLINESS. 



As the outward works of nature are but outward types repre- 
senting a divine idea, so thy outward body, in all its actions, 
pleasures, and passions, is but an outward representation of the 
spirit within thee. 

Truth, flowing from Deity through thy spirit settles around 
it in the form of thy individuality. The animal life dwelleth 
in the body, but of itself cannot exist. Life draweth sustenance 
from spirit, and the spirit draweth from its father, life eternal. 

In all outward things, thou can detect life or its power flow- 
ing from the inward to the outward. God's great truths of 
production and reproduction are hidden. We behold the trees 
budding, blossoming, and bearing fruit, but all life is hidden. 

Outward eyes cannot see where the animate and inanimate 
unite. We can detect the effect of life, which we call life, in 
a very early stage of its action, but the precise moment of its 
commencement will always remain hidden from our view while 
in the flesh. How much our Father doth design to reveal to 
our understanding in his great eternity, himself knoweth. 

I know that he is good, for experience hath revealed it to 
my understanding, and we all united could neither weaken nor 
limit his goodness. When we mind, each one for himself, our 
own instructions, we cannot go wrong. 

Thou can draw sustenance for thyself alone. No one can 
feed thee, neither can thou give unto any one the highest 
spiritual food. 

Spiritual dependence hath made man the most servile of 
slaves. As spiritual freedom is above animal freedom, so is 
spiritual slavery in degradation below all animal slavery. That 
21 



314 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

man who submits unto control in matters relating unto his 
spiritual welfare, loses the highest and holiest privilege of his 
nature. 

No man can judge for another man what is God's will toward 
him. And any man or set of men who fasten chains upon his 
conscience, are the worst slaveholders on earth. No man has 
any right to limit the rational enjoyment of another. And he 
who submits to such limitation through fear of man, doth not 
know how little life is worth. 

God did not give us being, to imitate the animals that creep 
on the earth's surface. He placed us upright. In all move- 
ments we should walk erect, our feet on earth, and our head 
toward the world above. In this position our vision is clear. 

Stand up before God a man, Let no cords save those of 
love bind thee. Let light guide thy footsteps. Thou art man, 
the son of God, and who can be more ? 

Remember that man is a brother, to be loved next unto God. 
As thou would do thy Father's will, love all mankind. Love 
and light are to save man from his animal nature, which leadeth 
down unto death. 

All redeeming from sin must come first from Light, which re- 
vealeth unto the understanding what is sin, and then from Love, 
which rewardeth him who labors faithfully in his own elevation. 

Oh, man ! Redeem thyself first and then extend a hand unto 
thy brethren. Hast thou lived up to the line of duty revealed 
by that power, which is called light, within thee ? 

If so, thou art free from sin, for no man can sin beyond his 
own light. Do not look back and repine at thy former dark- 
ness, but gird on thy armor, for another night is coming, and 
remember there is a glorious day beyond. 

Could thou know the light in all its beauty if there were no 
shade? Is not wisdom in all the arrangement of the universe? 
Oh, how beautiful is thy existence ! Do not fear to learn what 
thou art. God hath made no truth which will harm an honest 
child. If thou seek for wisdom, it will dwell with thee. 

Go to thy Father in humility of spirit, and ask for nothing 
but what will elevate thy spiritual nature, and thou must be 
benefited by his presence. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 315 

Thou art created — not self-existent — and what more simple 
or more wise than to go to him, who knows all thou art, when 
thou would learn goodness ? 

It is the very simplicity of this faith which makes it unwel- 
come to many men who make a profit out of profession. What 
need for any one to interpret God's word, if all can hear it ? 
It is not in the goodness of his divine nature to speak to his 
children in an unknown tongue. 

No man ever can interpret God's word for thee, simply because 
God speaks in every man and none other can hear, neither can 
thou fully tell another the import of his counsel. 

If thou silence a brother's conscience by argument, until he 
agree with thee, what hast thou gained ? Only the body of a 
dead man ! Thou may convince the brain, but the spirit will 
despise thee. 

The perceptions of the spirit are quicker than aught else. 

Reason and instinct are slow compared with the speed and 
clearness of the spirit. Divine revelations come to the spirit 
and open to its view wisdom enough to fill volumes. One word 
from the highest is heard and felt everywhere. What is God's 
word ? It is that power which revealeth unto the spirit of man 
the understanding of truth. This word of God in the soul, is 
man's elevator and saviour. 

It elevates him above animal desires and saves him from sin. 
There is no sin save doing as thou knowest to be wrong. The 
present shall not judge the past, for as man bodily groweth, so 
groweth his spiritual capacity. Neither shall the future judge 
the present, for God is here now. 

Flesh and blood cannot elevate thee. Matter is not sacred, 
for the spirit of God is not in it. Let this truth dwell with thee 
as a shield to ward off all superstitious forms. There is nothing 
sacred or divine save the spirit of God. 

The voice of all mankind cannot sanctify one atom. There 
is no holy place on earth, save in man where the son of God 
dwelleth. This place remaineth open only to him. No one 
can intrude. All heard in this sanctuary is the voice of the 
Father as it imparts wisdom unto the listener. 

Every man is the son of God. No man has ever been more, 



316 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

neither can any man ever be more. There is room for the full 
development of all the powers in every man in the universe. 
Do thou attend unto thy own garden. Pull out the weeds and 
nourish the trees which bear everlasting fruit. 

It is the fruit which giveth God glory, and as thou dost dwell 
in him thou art partaker of thy own holy happiness, earned in 
the fruit. God planteth seed. If weeds are in thy pathway 
pluck them out ; do not cut them off, but pull them out from 
the root, that they grow not again to harm thee. 

Keep above thy .body. It will drag thee down into the dust, 
for it belongeth unto the earth. The spirit will draw thee up- 
ward, into the eternal, spiritual things of God. Thy body is 
for a good and noble purpose ; it is to render into fruit all of 
the Father's promptings within thy spirit. 
It is a good servant, but a very hard master. 
The body is subject unto all the laws of the universe, and 
hence, being governed by law, it makes laws for the govern- 
ment of itself and other men. This would be well, if human 
laws coincided with the physical laws of the outward ; but when 
it comes to making rules of government for spiritual bodies, 
then the highest reason, emanating from the highest and purest 
mind, would fall far short, because the spirit hath no earth in 
its nature. 

While pure spiritual inspiration is not at all subject unto 
reason, it will still always coincide with, and be instrumental 
in producing the most exalted reason of which man is capable. 
The highest inspiration never enters the outer world. God's 
voice cannot be heard by outward ears. 

If this be true, then all rules of religion or modes of worship 
are beneath the spiritual perceptions of man. When an idea 
takes an outward form, it stops growing ; it cannot progress. 
Thus, if now thou write the purest truth within thy knowledge, 
that truth will soon lose its luster, because it hath become fixed 
while thou art journeying outward toward perfection. 

One good action is worth more to man than all forms he ever 
made. One good action will illustrate more holy principles 
than will ten thousand words. Oh, man ! thou art truly the 
son of God, when thou goest about doing good. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 31T 

Good actions pave the pathway unto perfection. By your 
actions shall the Father know what manner of men ye are. 
What use to call upon his holy name before men, while your 
brethren are perishing for want of your help ? 

Aim to elevate first thyself, and then all mankind. There is no 
man so weak but can do some good, if the right spirit be in him. 

Goodness is always acceptable worship. Do good thyself. 
Weaken not thy own energies, thy own credit, and thy own 
reward, by appointing numbers for thy agents ; get to the task 
thyself. God worketh in goodness, and should not thou ? He 
will direct, if thou art only willing to execute ; and if thou 
art humble and fail, will not he bear all blame ? 

I cannot believe him to be capable of unkindness. All love 
emanates from him. Do we produce it ? can we control it ? 
or can we destroy it ? 

That feeling which bindeth the parent unto the child, ap- 
proaches nearest unto perfect love. Perfect love riseth above 
all consideration of self. Perfect love hath but one self, one 
center, which is God. 

Love is the perfect child of God in man, which longeth for 
its home ; and how often is it crucified by the animal will. 
Perfect love gaineth no point by force. It is gentle in persua- 
sion, and mild in reproof. It always aims to elevate the object 
of its care. 

In the true man there is love to God, which surpasseth all 
other love. He may love his parents truly, and his children, 
so that life would be a pleasant sacrifice for their good, but 
below, and above, and within this love, is that love which God's 
child, in him, beareth toward the eternal Father and creator of 
love. This is the stay and strength of his being. Around 
this central fountain do the holiest feelings of his nature grow, 
even as strong vines whose branches bear fruits of righteous- 
ness and peace. 

It is this love, this child of God in the soul, that all man's 
passions rebel against, and seek to destroy, crying, " Crucify 
him, crucify him." And often they do silence the child, in 
apparent death, but truly he doth rise again, and come forth 
in new and clean garments. 



318 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

This son is born without the aid of flesh. Flesh is not in 
him, but he is in flesh and in the Father. 

This pure love of the Father is the indwelling light of every 
true man. It is the uniting link, the eternal bond of union, 
existing in the midst of all goodness. 

This is the Comforter, for it bringeth peace unto the spirit. 
No affliction can check its power. It flourishes in persecution, 
and gains strength in animal weakness. When man loseth con- 
fidence in his own power, then ariseth up this light of perfect 
love, and^pointeth out a better way. 

It goeth on before in all good works, and reporteth unto the 
Father all the laborers on earth. 

This internal son of God is heir of all happiness. This is 
our highest and holiest self, in harmony with the Father. 
When enemies assail us, this son riseth upward. It is above 
the animal life. 

This is the guardian angel of each man — his own highest 
nature, in harmony with his Father, keepeth guard over all his 
lower propensities. Through this cometh the Father's love, 
which leadeth and guideth unto all happiness. 

This is also the guard around the creator of light and love. 
No being can receive communion from God, save through these 
pure channels. 

This son changeth not his dwelling-place. The soul of man 
is his temple. Therein is he born. Herein is his freedom — 
he hath union and communion with the Father. Whither- 
soever goeth the Father, there can the pure child go. The 
spirit of the Father leadeth and guideth unto all holy things. 

Man descendeth from his high estate when he seeketh for an 
outward illustration of love and light. Keep thy spiritual 
freedom perfect. Thou cannot distinguish any form to these 
pure essences. 

Surely the dust of earth does not contain any holiness, nor 
stones righteousness, nor can wood redeem from sin. There is 
no outward holiness. Outward labor and outward suffering 
may weaken the body, but only God's love can sanctify the 
spirit. 

Carry no corpses with thee. Let the dead lie in their own 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 319 

dust. Let thy labor be among the living children of God, 
suffering in darkness in the souls of men. Open a passage for 
the light of truth and love to enter. Outward light and labor 
are necessary unto the happiness and health of the bodily 
powers, and so inward light and labor are necessary unto the 
inward. 

Keep a child in darkness, and permit no exercise, and how 
very soon death will relieve its sufferings. With the inward 
child there is no death, but the same restraint applied unto the 
light and labor will render life stagnant. Disease will spring 
up in the mind, clouding reason and darkening intellect, until 
only the Father can restore perfect health. 

When all else fails, when the body is prostrated with disease, 
and the brain cannot be controlled, when every earthly power 
is wrecked upon the dark rocks of despair, then can the voice 
of God, speaking unto his loved child in the shattered bark, bid 
hope arise and come forth. 

God alone hath power over death. This power dwells in the 
child in the Father, and maketh eternal life. All the terror 
inspired by death cannot get beyond the animal in man. 
Every child of God knoweth his love. The earthly man may 
strive to hush and keep down the little babe within him, but its 
tiny voice will at times startle him more than the vibrating 
tones of thunder. 

This child is born in man, when he first knoweth God's spirit 
to breathe eternal life within him. When the light which 
telleth all things, but cannot be told, dawns upon his spirit. 
When love, in divine purity, opens the gates of eternal happi- 
ness, and some little of God's own pure atmosphere gushes into 
the soul. When man knoweth that God is, then is the child 
born. 

There is no outward body, for none is required. The out- 
ward body, in its pure mechanism and beautiful finish, was 
constructed for the child to ride in and rest in, subject unto 
control only of the child, and the child in turn controlled by 
its Father. 

The body is the link between this pure one and the outward 
truths. Through the body this child learneth the effects of its 



820 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Father's goodness. But the body, when valued with the inward 
light of love and wisdom, is but as dust in the balance. 

The body of these eternal children is truth in purity. Each 
child draweth from the Father divine food, which giveth suste- 
nance, in which there can be no waste. They grow in the 
likeness of him whose children they are, and of such children 
is the kingdom of heaven composed. 

He dwelleth in them, for he is in all purity ; and they 
dwell in him, because they have affinity only for his pure 
presence. 

The earthly child, that which inherits from the earthly 
parents, the casket in which the heavenly child is placed, 
showeth the highest perfection of animal nature. In its eye 
is more intelligence, and in its voice more wisdom, than in all 
other animals combined. God did make the body for the abid- 
ing-place of the fruits of his love. 

Through the avenue of the body alone can his children in 
spirit learn the truths of earth, and through the truths thus 
learned can they only gain outward wisdom. After the spir- 
itual child leaves the body, its avenue to earthly truths, and all 
outward truths, is closed. It can only learn of the earth, 
through affinity for the earth, which cometh in the outward 
body of flesh. All truth is practical. 

While the spirit dwells in flesh it can enter God's presence, 
but after it leaveth flesh, it cannot enter flesh again. All free- 
dom dwells in godliness, and all bondage in worldliness. 

Thou dost take thy earnings into thy heaven, and sit upon 
them as thy throne. Learn well the passing truths around 
thee — eternal truths are waiting. 

When in the future home thou shalt hunger and thirst after 
some of the good fruits of thy earthly life, thou shalt find them 
in thy own household. 

If they be not there, thou wilt hunger in vain. Every man 
taketh into heaven sufficient of refined earth truths in the store- 
house of memory to illustrate all that is required of earth. 

God hath boundless fields of labor, and all that he calls 
need never be idle. 

The earthly infant leaveth its mother's arms for its heavenly 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 321 

Father's bosom, and loseth nothing of God's great joy, for it 
hath a field of labor, and the great love of the universe for its 
tender nurse. 

See, therefore, the great beauty of the diversity of gifts. If 
thine eyes be illuminated by the light divine, all things are 
good unto thee, for all are but parts of the divine whole, which 
is perfect. Keep thine eye single. Look for thy own duty 
only, and it will be made plain. Is it not large enough ? How 
large is God ? 

At all times strive to remember that God is good, and duties 
made plain by his light in the soul must result in goodness. 
His light quickeneth only the good seed in man. The light of 
day is sufficient unto all outward duties. 

If man's duties had all been outward, he had required no 
inward light. As God delighteth in the doing of goodness, 
the labor of love, so must the child of his love which dwells in 
man. 

The pure children are guided unto him by the holy influence 
of love. 

As the earthly child ripeneth in its mother's womb, so doth 
ripen the seed of God's love in the soul of man. By the light 
of wisdom it is nourished, and in the truth it groweth ; and 
in love cometh its happiness forever. 

As the mother loveth her own fruit, her own tender infant, 
so loveth God in his great perfection the fruit of his hand. 
As the mother giveth her earthly life unto her child of earth, 
so God giveth unto her heavenly child therein his own eternal 
life. 

Truth is beautiful in its holy simplicity. All things outward 
have an inward cause infinitely more beautiful. God is un- 
bounded good. In all goodness he dwelleth. There is no 
good save that which belongeth unto him. 

Within the earthly form of the infant is God's great good- 
ness manifested, in the perfection of all its machinery, and 
the harmony of every part. It is the most beautiful of all his 
outward works. It is the finest-toned instrument in the uni- 

rse. 

Within this outward beautiful manifestation of divine love 



322 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

is a seed of eternal spiritual life, which is as much above the 
outward life as is God above man. This seed groweth only 
in perfect truth. The light of its life is God's love. 

Let no man think that his eternal life can be nourished and 
increase in stature by the operation of anything outward. 
Eternal nature is not outward nature. It is the spiritual 
nature of God, which in his great love he gave unto man, his 
child. 

He gave it unto his own infant children in the clay tene- 
ments on earth. He placed them there that they might see 
and feel his goodness, as it was manifested in the beginning. 
But food cannot come from all outward goodness combined 
sufficient to nourish the eternal life of his humblest child. 

The highest production of man's brain, if unquickened by 
the divine light which ever dwelleth in love, is dead ; there is 
no life in it. 

As the outward man groweth from the outward infant, 
according to outward laws, so doth the just man made perfect 
grow from the inward child of God, according to the inward 
promptings of divine love. 

As thou growest in the comprehension of spiritual truth, 
the body of thy eternal being enlarges. Spiritual truth is 
unchangeable, eternal, and perfect. It is more precious than 
all the wealth of earth. 

When thou knowest one little part of this divine wisdom, 
all other parts can be opened with its aid. There is no chance 
to err, for there is no error to find in God's pure atmosphere. 

Fear not for goodness and love, their strength is of God. 
Stand by them, and the earth shall pass away ere it can 
harm thee. 

Thou hast within thee one in the divine image, and should 
thou smother divinity with flesh ? Is this moment worth more 
than the infinite beyond ? Doth reason teach this ? 

Give thy flesh healthy food, warm clothing, cleanliness, and 
exercise, and it will need little more. 

As thy body does extract from earth its life, giving thee 
strength to perform thy outward duties, and building thee up 
into a good man in all outward respects, so does thy spiritual 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 323 

being extract from the regions of eternal light, where truth is 
perfect and hath no shadow, strength which exalteth unto 
holiness. 

Thy body is the image of thy spirit, and thy spirit is in the 
image of heaven's highest One. 

Thy outward body is refined outward nature, and thy 
spiritual body is composed of the eternal truths of the Father. 
Thou dost create nothing — dost shape thyself. In the out- 
ward, if careless, circumstances will sway thee ; in the inward, 
if careless, thou wilt not grow. In God's pure presence all is 
truth. 

Seek after spiritual truth, which is simply the essence, or 
eternal cause of all the outward, and do not neglect the 
lessons received. Despise not the outward, for it is the illus- 
tration of the inward. 

The father made thy body of the purest earthly materials, 
in order for it to receive the germ of a higher nature. 

As the corn groweth in the earth, so groweth thy spirit in 
thee. The corn is refined earth. Thy body is still a higher 
refinement. Thy brain is stimulated by the refined effects 
flowing from the healthy labor of thy stomach. 

The corn may help form thy brain, the fruits of earth may 
nourish thy thinking powers — in truth do constitute those 
powers, so far as the material part goeth ; but the I AM which 
controls these powers, and draws up through them all knowl- 
edge of things below, is the Son of God in thee. This power 
art thou. 

The body is nothing, save as used. It bringeth forth and 
makes manifest the truth, the fruit of the spirit. 

Thus, as the corn or fruit of earth, man hath his roots in 
the earth, but the rain, dew, and sunshine must come from 
above. The quickening power which draws eternal life down 
from heaven, is man's spiritual affinity for God. 

The earth toiled on in its refining process for countless ages 
before man was placed upon it. God can make all things 
perfect, for his is all power. But in his sight it seemeth good 
to plant seed, and let time develop them. " Let there be 
light" in thee, oh man ! 



324 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Upon the summit of creation thou art placed — wilt thou 
throw thyself down ? God did not banish thee from heaven — 
himself came down to earth and dwelt, and doth forever dwell 
in the spirits of all his children. 

Down through thy material nature floweth the light divine, 
and whatsoever it shineth upon revealeth unto thee truth, 
which, if well learned, becometh thine. Thou dost gather 
thy own house or body around thee, and in its midst dost thou 
dwell forever. 

God's truth is boundless and perfect. His resources are 
above all powers of exhaustion. Thy house cannot possibly 
get large enough to hold two spirits, neither can thy spirit 
possibly get large enough to fill two houses. 

Truth is the temple in which wisdom dwelleth and love 
resteth. God's child in man, the undying spirit, receiveth 
and retaineth truth around it as a covering. As the outward 
infant groweth in body of flesh, so groweth God's child in 
the body of truth. And as the outward one groweth in the 
wisdom of the world, and the understanding of outward nature, 
so progresseth the son of God in eternal wisdom. 

All things outward represent the bodies of inward wisdom. 

Through the truths of thy spiritual body, collected around 
thee from the earth, wilt thou in future learn all thou can know 
of the material universe. 

Thy noble brow, and that beautifully strung harp, the in- 
tellectual powers, must perish. Thy hand, that now gathers 
for thee the beautiful and good things of earth, must return 
unto dust. There is no part of thee eternal save those inward 
truths — essences of all thy outward experience— which cluster 
around the seat of divine intelligence within thee. 

These truths give thee new hands, and new limbs, which are 
transparent as God's own pure atmosphere, and yet are thy 
own, and known to be thine by every inhabitant of heaven. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



CONSCIENCE— BEAUTY OF HOLINESS— BREAD OF LIFE- 
WATERS OF LOVE— CONCEPTION OF THE WORD— LIGHT 
ETERNAL LIFE. 



Blessed are they who die in the truth. Perfect freedom 
cometh only after death of the body. But this freedom is the 
result of our truthfulness unto the promptings of divine wisdom 
while in the body. We inhabit our own dwelling-place. We 
have our own house to dwell in and cannot usurp another's. 

Thou makest thy own heaven or future happiness. Lay no 
blame at thy Father's door if thou art not happy. All things 
around thee are good if thou art, all things lovely if thou art. 
As thou leavest earth thou enterest heaven, and the door of 
thy outward being is shut. 

Thou standest in the presence of Deity as thou art. All the 
gilding of ten thousand worlds would not add one drop to thy 
happiness nor raise thee in his sight. 

By thy body he knoweth how much truth thou hast collected 
on earth, and thy inward capacity is known by the amount of 
light thou wilt hold. 

Truth is witness for all things, and the absence of truth is 
witness against all. If truth be the staff of thy life on earth it 
will witness for thee in heaven. If thou live on earth in care- 
lessness, not heeding the lessons of wisdom which beset thee at 
every turn in life, what can thou expect truth to say of thee ? 
Within the body of truth dwelleth the light of God which 
quickeneth into consciousness the knowledge of right and 
wrong. 

That power which revealeth the wisdom and happiness flow- 
ing from goodness and giving judgment unto man, is his own 
undying conscience. A true conscience is in harmony with the 
wisdom of Deity and knoweth all things to be very good. 



326 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

God's light is the knowledge of goodness which in man 
reveals his own shortcomings in order to encourage him onward 
and upward. This knowledge of what thou might be and of 
thy own shortcoming is revealed by thy own little part of 
divinity. 

The good man feeleth clear. His happiness is pure and the 
light thereof illuminates the outward eye so that all can see it 
is right within. 

This conscience of goodness reveals unto our Father the 
precise state of our spiritual capacity. He knoweth all things. 
His wisdom is pure. That which thou knowest is a little of 
his greatness received from him. 

Thou may reflect a little light even as the star in the out- 
ward heavens, but when the sun cometh thy light is become dark. 

The boundless realms of space are filled with the divine 
wisdom. Goodness and love are everywhere. Can thou not 
see them nor feel their presence ? 

When truth alone maketh thy body and love becometh the 
blood of thy life and light illuminates thy conscience, then 
thou will know more of thy Father's goodness. 

Truth is the spiritual body, love its life blood, and light of 
divine wisdom its consciousness. From these pure essences no 
refuse matter can pass away. These came from the perfection 
of Deity and live forever. 

This new being, this second born, this son of God is the im- 
perfect perfect. Its powers, its component parts are perfect, 
but it is infinitely less in capacity than its Father. As the 
helpless infant unto the noble manhood, so is this child of God 
unto Divinity. 

Glorious is thy destiny, thou son of God. 

Even on earth some little of the Father's great goodness at 
times visits thy spirit and happiness dwells in thee. When he 
cometh thou art filled. His glorious light shineth round thee, 
and behold goodness, love, charity, mercy, and holiness take 
unto themselves life. Thou becomest a new being. All things 
upon which thy vision resteth are illuminated by the new light 
within thee. 

No earthly care or pain can darken this light. No outward 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 327 

cloud can intercept its rays, and ten thousand suns cannot 
increase its glory. It is the wisdom and feeling, the bright 
consciousness of eternal life which cometh with the Father as a 
presence. No man can know of life eternal save by the 
Father's wisdom. 

Thy outward body, through the operation of its different 
organs, extracts from the fruits of earth its own continuance as 
a being. If thou seek only rational food and exercise or labor, 
only as an exalted reason and knowledge of thyself shall dictate, 
thy body will grow in health and strength unto its full per- 
fection. 

A healthy body is simply an harmonious connection of 
beautiful outward truths operating according to good laws. 
Each atom is a truth of outward nature. 

The spiritual body is the life of these truths refined until 
there is nothing Jeft that the earth can claim. Its machinery 
is composed of those subtile essences which feed the most 
elevated parts of the outward brain, producing all outward 
evidences of nobility. 

This body hath for its motive power light, divine light. It 
is quickened, guided, and governed in the light of the spirit of 
truth. In the light the spirit dwelleth. 

Oh God ! Thou alone can guide thy trembling child in safety 
through the avenues of wisdom which lead from earth to thee. 
Thou alone can give sufficient strength to look steadfastly in 
the light. 

The spiritual house is transparent. Thy identity is as 
distinct in the future as in the present. As thy outer eye sees 
outer bodies, so does thy inward eye see the body of truth. 

Is this not plain ? Did not God create all truth ? Is he 
not therefore greater than all ? The work of his wisdom is 
called truth. The spirit of man is the child of God — is part 
of God, and therefore above all truth, save himself. The eye 
of Divine Intelligence looks upon all things, and all is truth. 
The child of this eye — this eye of his child — sees all truth even 
in his own light. 

Even in mental vision on earth a man can see a most intri- 
cate piece of machinery and view all its parts working in 



328 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

harmony even before any such combination of truth had ever 
been looked upon through outward light. 

If thou hast a healthy and humble mind on earth, if thou 
cultivate the noblest attributes of thy nature, if at all times 
thou art laboring in the truth as light revealeth it, then thou 
wilt enter heaven with a body around thee which angels will 
delight to look upon. 

Is not this proven in the outward ? Do thou gaze upon the 
humble, intelligent, obedient man on earth, and say if thou see 
not something noble, pure, and elevating in his countenance ? 
And is not that within him which God looks upon far more 
noble and far more beautiful ? 

There is a living beauty in holiness. The holy man dwells 
in the midst of the breath of eternal life — the breath of the 
Father, which encircles his pure children as a halo of glory 
from above. The sweetness of this breath fills his nostrils and 
the words of his mouth go forth laden with that love which 
ever dwells in pure wisdom. 

Oh man ! Thou heir of all wisdom ! Be thou worthy of thy 
eternal existence. Remember thy Father's love which in 
purity surpasseth its most holy image on earth. If thou 
can love thine own offspring so purely, how must he love 
thee? 

The whole earth is not worth one false step. Do thou look 
forward to thy eternal home and let every day on earth take 
thee nearer unto it. Do thy daily duties and eat thy daily 
bread in humility of spirit. Treasure up thy daily truths. 
Let every one thou learnest dwell in thy house forever. 

The Father hath arranged truth so beautifully that thou 
must find it if seeking rightly. It is all around thee. Let 
thy aspirations be humble and sincere. Let thy true prayer be 
for bread daily and hourly, and the truth shall feed thee. 

Eat the bread of truth and drink the waters of life which 
flow down from the regions of eternal light, and thy spiritual 
body will grow in beauty and strength. Truth is the daily 
bread of life eternal. 

This holy bread of life strengthens the body of truth even 
as the outward bread of thy daily life strengthens thy outer 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 329 

body. And the truth groweth in thee in harmony with all 
truth around thee. 

This bread is received at the Father's table. The more it 
is eaten the more does it increase. He who daily receives 
pure sustenance from daily bread blessed by the Father, hath 
drawn down heavenly happiness unto earth. 

In thy outward labor and strife in the world do not forget 
this bread which will strengthen thy inward nature and through 
it the outward until thou wilt know an overcoming of all 
opposed to truth. 

If thou seek in the light thou will never find darkness. 

The whole earth if thou had it to give could not buy one 
crust of the bread of life which nourishes those who sit at the 
Father's table. 

The wealth of the outward universe is represented in thy 
outward formation — and can thou command truth ? 

The waters of divine love are spiritual drink. Thou can 
have the bread of truth and the waters of love daily. These 
are not earthly food. Animal life is nourished by the outward 
images of these — the dross or refuse cast off from around the 
inner life. 

Blessed are the thirsty, for they alone can drink of these 
waters. Hast thou not known this thirst ? Has not thy whole 
being yearned after- that sweet feeling which love alone giveth? 
No man can progress in wisdom and truth without partaking 
of truth and love daily. Wisdom is the understanding of truth 
and the feeling of love. 

Do not neglect thy higher duties. Strive to lay up for 
future use the essence of this holy bread and water. It is of 
far more importance to thy eternal nature to have good healthy 
food than it is to thy mortal nature, for if thy higher nature 
be well fed it sendeth down great strength to the lower. 

Great genius is often incased in a weak animal nature. A 
man may be spiritually pure and elevated and yet have to dwell 
in a loathsome body on earth. How very sweet unto such 
must be the pure food which giveth strength to the undying 
nature. 

When thou goest to the Father's table, go empty, hungering 



330 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

and thirsting after righteousness, and thou wilt be filled. Thou 
can take nothing away with thy hands, and the food will not 
last thee long ; it is perfect, but thou art not. 

Thy outward body must be often fed and so must thy inward 
body be fed or it will not grow in strength and wisdom. 

Fresh food is given daily to all who earn it. 

Thy whole nature is thy part of thy Father's vineyard. 
Thou must labor daily to remove weeds, and nourish with food 
and water the vines he planted, that they may grow and bear 
fruit. 

The fruit is the Father's recompense. In holy things thou can- 
not eat unless thou labor. God's goodness is all around thee, 
but to know of it thou must become fitted by thy own exertions. 

When God created thy power of knowing and doing and 
placed in thee that which controls these powers, his part was 
finished — thou wert good. 

Thou dost begin at the beginning and that which thou earnest 
is thine. The universe unto thee at the beginning is chaos. 
Thy Father's spirit moveth upon the deep, and thou dost come 
forth into existence. Around thee the sea of love and the dry 
land of truth appear. Many days and many nights must thou 
go through before the garden of pure enjoyment is thy habita- 
tion. Conception, infancy, youth, manhood, age, decay and 
dissolution ; these are the seven days of earthly life, and in 
dissolution, the seventh, cometh the only rest, for herein alone 
can come entire spiritual freedom. 

The Father saw fit to embody all things in thee. Thou art 
all condensed into one, one little image, one little child of him 
who knoweth and doeth all things. The fishes of the sea, the 
birds of the air, and the animals on earth, all contribute to thy 
understanding. 

Compared with the outward, thou art great indeed, and 
glorious. Compared with him who made thee such, thou art 
little indeed. But little as thou art, thy spirit is near and dear 
unto him. All love emanates from him and binds thee unto 
him. Thy joy is felt by him, and thy happiness descends from 
his home. 

There is but one way in which thou can contribute unto his 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 331 

happiness, and that is in doing his will. Sink thyself into his 
depth. Cease to exert the animal fire of thy will, and let it 
become entirely subject unto his will. The philosophy of thy 
being is beautiful, but love, which is the feeling, the life of 
happiness, is above all things perishable. One drop of pure 
love for thy heavenly Father is worth more to thee than a will 
of iron strength. 

When thy will becometh subject unto divine love, it giveth 
energy unto thy goodness. When thy love becometh subject 
unto thy own will, it runs out into animal passion, and will 
wreck thee upon despair. 

Go not in thy own strength, for of thyself thou can do 
nothing. Thou did not bring forth thy body from chaos, or 
thy spirit from heaven. Thou art because God willed thou 
should be. It pleased him to embody in thee the animal and 
the divine, the beginning and the end. The beginning knowl- 
edge, and the end happiness. His time is eternal. Hast thou 
not time to serve him ? 

Do his will, as it is made manifest in the light of thy own 
conscience. If it take an hundred years of time to do one 
little act which thou feelest to be in accordance with his will, 
thou could not spend an hundred years more profitably. Thou 
cannot measure the effect of one outward word or act of thy 
everyday life, how then know what that which he prompts 
within thee will produce in the countless ages of eternity ? 

We are all laborers, and are all rewarded as we merit. The 
Father's labor is perfect, and taketh its reward along, there- 
fore be careful in what part of the vineyard thou art employed. 
If thou do that which does not produce happiness in thee, 
thou art laboring in vain, and would do well to change thy 
employment. 

There is no service thou can render unto Deity without being 
rewarded in the performance of it. God giveth no credit, 
neither does he pay in advance. Thou must act for him now, 
and now wilt thou be paid. Learn to do good because of the 
feeling flowing unto thyself from the act. 

Our Father is truly honest. If he prompt thee to do some 
labor for him, plant a flower in the spirit of a brother, or 



332 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

remove a thorn or stumbling-block from his pathway, thou wilt 
find thy reward in thy own spirit. 

And when thou doest an act, it is well to not listen too 
much unto man's opinion. If thou feel within thee that all is 
well, it matters not what man may think or say. Thy duty is 
unto God jirst, and next unto man. 

And thou wilt find that in doing strictly as the Father shall 
dictate within thee, thou wilt do thy highest duty unto man. 

Man hath greater fear of man than love of God. In the 
glorious future, when man shall be freed from superstition 
and fear, when he shall have learned that God's love is more 
enduring, more ennobling, and more reliable, than all laws or 
customs man can create, his mind will rise up as the strong 
man unbound. 

Thou hast not confidence in God's love. Thou hast not 
confidence in his wisdom. Thou dost leave him, and, turning 
down, dost lean upon flesh for support. Thou dost forsake thy 
own noble position, and go down into the mire with swine. Be- 
hold the son of God, inheritor of his glory, burying his crown, 
a,nd casting away his bright inheritance ! 

And what is gained ? A living death ! Bury not thy soul 
that death may live. Time to thee is this instant, and now it 
is gone — whither ? See thy wisdom ! What art thou, and how 
much dost thou know ? 

All thou can know is revealed in thy spirit by its affinity for 
its creator, through which cometh its knowledge of him, and 
through his light of all things. Would thou take this knowl- 
edge to pervert it ? 

All thy happiness which is worthy of man cometh from His 
love for thee. Take this wisdom and this love from thee, and 
what is left ? A poor diseased animal, which only knoweth 
enough to dread the death it carries. 

Thou art a responsible being. God intended thee for a 
companion. Thou art learning the first letter of the great 
alphabet of eternal wisdom. He is teaching thee himself; no 
true man can receive his highest instruction from any save 
him. When thou can read the eternal Word, which is in the 
beginning, thou wilt have wisdom which hath no ending. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 333 

The word of God, which was in the beginning, is now, and 
will forever be, is Truth. This word, which liveth only in 
him, and through him in the spirit of man, hath the eternal 
meaning of all things. It is living wisdom, revealed always in 
light. 

Every tree, blossom, bird, and flower, sing of it, but it is 
only in reality known by God and man, for in these alone is 
beginning and ending. In these alone is that spirit which 
giveth life to wisdom, and which controls the meaning of the 
word. 

God created the heavens and the earth, and when all was 
good, and fit for man, he created man, that his wisdom and 
love might have a worthy dwelling-place on earth. In the 
beautiful garden of man's brain, amid the trees and flowers, 
he placed the conception of the word, the understanding of 
truth. 

That which hangs around thee, the body, the bones, 
muscles, and blood of which do thy bidding, have no under- 
standing. Thy brain hath simply feeling, simply knoweth rest 
and pain. All else of thee, all which perceiveth truth, all 
which feeleth the pleasure flowing from wisdom, and the happi- 
ness flowing from love, came forth in thee when God breathed 
eternal light in thy soul. 

When thou art quickened by the inbreathing of divine light, 
then doth wisdom live, and love spring forth in thy soul. 
When thou dost put forth thy hand in the light, the action 
thereof shall glorify God, and when thy mouth speaketh, the 
joys of heaven shall be revealed. 

There is a noble manhood which can mingle in every action 
of daily life, and never be defiled. There is a guard which 
God doth place around the faithful, stronger than steel, and 
brighter than gold. 

Not one of his children can suffer without his knowledge and 
sympathy. His love knoweth no boundary, and his wisdom is 
perfect. When a true child suffers, the parent hath sympathy, 
and when the child is happy, the parent rejoices. This is the 
illustration of God's love. 

If his love dwell in thee, what can make thee afraid ? If the 



334 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

feeling which this love giveth be violated, does not the love 
know of it ? and will it not report truly unto the Father ? He 
that hath the Father's love can overcome all suffering, for he 
is raised up where all is peace. 

He that knoweth the Father's spirit dwelleth in him is by 
this knowledge raised above all flesh. Though the great Creator 
pleased to put thy spirit in the body, that it might learn 
through its own experience of all truths relating unto earth, it 
were not well to live only in these truths. 

If thou be true unto thy own manhood, truth will grow and 
strengthen in thee from thy conception unto thy dissolution. 
Every pain and every pleasure will give truth unto thee. 
Thou will learn pain from transgression, and pleasure from 
fulfillment. 

All the outward universe is a condensation of truth. To 
thee it is dead truth, only quickened into life by the inshining 
of divine light. 

The wisdom gained by transgression is given in pain. He 
that worships in darkness will rejoice in suffering. The light 
will pierce his eye like a flame of fire, and he cannot see. 
What can such comprehend in the spotless purity of God's 
presence ? How can perfect love dwell in a darkened spirit ? 

Pure happiness does not dwell in darkness. God gave the 
spirit of man affinity for light, that in the light he might learn 
all things, and through the light of wisdom and love come 
unto him and dwell forever. That we might know his good- 
ness by its fruits, part of the primeval nothingness — darkness — 
was left in our nature. We have within us a power which per- 
mits us to sin against the light. 

There is no spirit of darkness, but there is darkness in which 
spirit cannot live, because in spirit did God say, let there be 
light. 

And this is the key to the whole plan of thy creation. God 
breathed into thee the breath of eternal life, and behold thou 
did live in the light ; and in the darkness thou must die. 
Thou did exhaust the highest and receive in thee the lowest of 
all which God did call forth from chaos. 

The light, which is the eternal life of thy spirit, maketh thee 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 335 

to be an accountable being. Light knoweth darkness, but dark- 
ness knoweth not the light, for it is blind. Intelligence cometh 
from God, and not from nothing, which is opposite unto him. 

Man can analyze outward light, tell its component parts, 
and measure its speed. He can learn its effect on the different 
kinds of life and living things on earth. 

Even so can he learn of the inward light the beauties of 
eternal life, and the living things of heaven. The great spir- 
itual garden is lighted by the presence of Deity. 

If in thy whole life thou hast done one action in which God's 
pure light revealeth no darkness, no selfishness, thou art in 
that action most blessed. Thou hast planted a seed in heaven 
which shall give thee pleasure forever. 

Of what use is man when he ceases to do good ? God's 
every action is perfect goodness, and thou can only labor for 
him in goodness. Thy actions cannot be perfect, but thou dost 
labor among the imperfect, and therefore thy goodness will be 
understood. 

All seed must die, or new life cannot come. In the life 
God hath most honor. His glory liveth. His purity and holi- 
ness shine in all goodness. Good fruits glorify thee. Thou 
shall dwell in the midst of thy own garden, and as thou dost 
plant and nourish the tree of life, so will thou be exalted by its 
fruits. 

If it pleased God to permit thorns to grow in thy soil, it is 
not therefore thy duty to tear thy flesh with them. There are 
thorns along thy pathway unto perfection, but they are there 
to keep thee in the right way ; if thou go not astray, the 
thorns will not harm thee. 

Thy father knoweth the worth of true wisdom. Thou can- 
not waste it. Thou must earn it. Thy spirit must be humble, 
and thy mind pure, before his lessons will be understood. That 
which thou dost get is thine forever. If a thorn pierce thee, 
the pain is thine. 

Thy greatest problem is thyself. When thou can solve it, 
thou will have little else to learn. Every organ of thy mind, 
and every emotion of thy spirit, combine in seeking, finding, 
or illustrating wisdom. 



336 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Would thou have wisdom of pain, or wisdom in which cometh 
pleasure ? All happiness cometh from God's presence, that is, 
all true happiness worthy of the spirit of man. 

If conscience pierce thee, thou hast earned the pain. If 
conscience give thee peace and joy, God hath looked in thy 
spirit and all is well. Has not thy spiritual experience proven 
this ? Is it not more rational to do right, and receive happi- 
ness, than to do wrong, and receive misery ? 

Truly thou hast thy reward, even as thou dost labor. In 
the light is joy and peace, but in darkness is no light, neither 
pleasure. 

If thou labor in darkness, of darkness shalt thou reap misery. 
If light came forth at God's command, and in the light dwell 
those essences which produce happiness, peace, and brotherly 
kindness, of what use can darkness, or the opposite of these 
pure essences, be unto thee ? 

In proportion as thou art true unto thy higher nature does 
darkness flee from thee. 

As thou dost become in affinity unto all things holy, un- 
holiness will forsake thee. As thou dost dwell in his presence, 
all things become subject unto thee, and thou art subject unto 
none save him. 

If thou dwell with him, thou hast one master whose power 
is love, and whose dominion is eternal wisdom. If thou dwell 
in flesh, thou hast many masters, and yokes grievous to be 
borne. 

Serve thou him who can bring forth from thy internal chaos 
light, life, and joy supreme. Who can make all things bright 
and lovely to thy gaze ; who can make heaven descend unto 
thee, and the earth pass away ; and who alone knoweth thee 
as thou art, and can guide thee safely onward and upward 
unto the understanding of all truth, and the reception of all 
love. 

Oh man ! consider thy own weakness. What can thou do ? 
Every pure and holy emotion ariseth in thee through the all- 
inspiring power of God's love. Of thyself thou cannot create 
happiness. All things are opened unto thee, but thou art 
blind, and will not see. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



DO GOOD— MAN A CREATOR— HAPPINESS IS FELT— THY 
EVERY POWER PROGRESSIVE — REASON AND CON- 
SCIENCE— HUMILITY AND PRIDE— JUSTICE AND MERCY. 



Labor, labor, oh, man ! in the true vineyard, the vineyard 
in which all vines are living goodness, and all fruits are love. 

There is no other field in which the son of God can labor. 
Thou cannot degrade Jehovah, nor drag his attributes in the 
dust. Love, mercy, and charity are not fruits of earth ; they 
spring from the Father, and their nourishment sustaineth the 
children. 

There is no greater wisdom than to love as the Father loveth. 
There is no greater joy than that which floweth from mercy. 
There is no true nobility, save that which dwells in charity. 

From the Father does all goodness flow, and unto him should 
we look for all. Not in idleness, for idleness is unworthy a 
blessing ; but in labor, for labor earneth all. 

If thou sow good seed, the harvest will give glory unto God. 
And what is this glory ? Only that elevation of spirit in thee 
which is fruit of good seed. Thou cannot add unto his perfec- 
tion, and the only way thou can glorify him is to ennoble thy- 
self and thy brother man. 

Thy voice can glorify God, by giving good counsel to an 
erring brother. By making manifest pure love, and the glori- 
ous strength, endurance, and beauty of pure truth. 

Thy hand can glorify the highest, by clothing the naked and 
feeding the hungry. By beating swords into plowshares, and 
by removing yokes of oppression. 

Goodness is the standard of true nobility. All wisdom 
dwelleth in goodness. All glory unto God is simply living 
goodness. 

Thy highest and holiest duty is so humble and so lowly, that 
if not very watchful thou will not find it. Do good. Good- 



338 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

ness dwelleth in love. It goeth out in love and cometh in 
laden with joy. Let no outward influence darken thy love of 
goodness. 

God's love floweth outward. It enters first the spirit of 
man, quickens the high powers of his mind, and through these 
powers directs his outward actions. He becometh the illustrator 
of inward light. 

How blessed is thy position ! Thou art heir unto wisdom, 
love, light, and truth. All things, high and holy, are opened 
unto thee by the spirit of God in thee. Thou art naught of 
thyself, yet with him thou art more than thousands of worlds 
without him. 

Thou art at the beginning, and endless is the path before 
thee. Be firm and steadfast in humility. Seek not the praise, 
nor fear the censure of man. He is thy brother, and the spirit 
of our Father is in him, working out his own glory ; therefore 
keep to thy own path. 

Be always humble, remembering thy imperfection. 

Light is the garment in which humility is clothed. Love 
maketh little noise, and charity is always quiet, and wisdom 
liveth in silent places. 

Purity produceth modesty, and modesty and humility are 
children of wisdom and love. 

The sum of all holy attributes dwells in thee. The breath 
of eternal life is thine. Thou art quickened by the spirit of 
God. His grace and his strength are suflicient for thee. 

Guard thy manhood. Always remember God is first, and 
thy duty unto him greatest. Thou cannot go to heaven to work 
for him ; the place in which to labor is all around thee. Raise 
thy kind. Produce an affinity for good works, and thy future 
labors will be heaven indeed to thee. 

In the light only can thou do acceptable labor. If thou 
labor in darkness, when the light cometh thy labor is fruitless. 
If thou labor in the light, when the darkness cometh thou can 
rest. This is true of the body, and also true of the soul. 

All inward principles have outward examples. God's good- 
ness is manifest in all things, so long as thou dost have light in 
thine eye. To thy outward eye come, through the light of the 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 339 

sun, the beauties of natural objects, and to thy inward eye, 
through divine light, come the beauties of spiritual truths. 

How is it thou dost know anything ? Whence cometh this 
power of discerning ? What art thou ? How is it thou can 
determine within thyself what is truth and what is not ? 

Thou hast within thee the son of him who created all things, 
knoweth all things, and ruleth over all things for good. This 
child seeketh homeward. Intelligence cometh downward from 
the source. Living wisdom hath but one outlet on earth, and 
that is in the spirit of man. 

Be not in haste to do God's will. Know first what it is — 
remembering thou art but a little babe, and can grow in truth 
but slowly. Thou hast begun and there is no end. Every 
truth is perfect. Thy understanding is quickened by the 
Father. Without this quickening thou would be but an ani- 
mal, governed by outward passions, and unable to rise above 
the earth. 

Seek unto the Father for help and strength. Thou hast 
nothing of thyself, which will last forever. Only as thou dost 
collect food for the eternal child within thee, wilt thou grow in 
eternal strength. 

Unless well guarded, all thou can receive from earth will hold 
thee down. But if thou have within thee the divine light of 
intelligence, all things will represent unto thee eternal wisdom, 
and in this wisdom thou wilt grow. Thy responsibility cometh 
from thy understanding. 

Instinct is subject unto natural laws, but spiritual perception 
is subject alone unto God. If thou were only animal, thou 
would have thy full share of animal happiness, for God is just, 
and all he hath made happiness dwelleth in. 

Had he finished thee, thou had always been happy in thy 
blissful ignorance. He planted the seed, but thou art to grow 
the man. The seed of himself, which thou art to unfold in thy 
daily experience, until, in the glorious future, thou wilt see and 
know the joy which dwelleth in perfect fruit. 

God created thee a creator. From a little ray of light 
thou dost build temples of truth. From a little drop of his 
love thou dost build arks of hope, in which all can safely ride. 



340 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

From a little word spoken in thee, thou can illuminate the mind 
of man, and point his way to heaven. 

He waiteth for thee. Thou art his child, and his house is 
open. Thou art growing daily. He waits for thy companion- 
ship. Let thy aspirations rise as the sun in the morning, and 
in the evening let them sink to rest in his bosom. 

He hath pleasure in thy dutiful childhood. Dost thou not love 
children ? Thi3 love is his within thee, which thou art convert- 
ing into thy own individuality — into thyself — through the ex- 
ercise of it. No man knoweth what he can do, if true unto 
his own high guide. 

The spirit of truth, love, and wisdom dwelleth in man, and 
will lead and guide him into the understanding of all holy 
things. Oh, man ! keep down in humility, seeking only to 
know eternal truths, for the things of a day cannot benefit 
thee. i 

In view of thy high privileges, it would seem strange thou 
should seek downward for enjoyment. Strange thou wilt 
voluntarily burden thyself with loads which only animals should 
carry. What rewards will such loads bring thee ? Thou can- 
not take any perishable thing into heaven with thee, for happi- 
ness in perfection is imperishable. 

Create thy own happiness. Thou art given the keys of 
heaven, why dost thou not enter ? Thou dost mistake the 
way, and in looking afar off for it, dost overlook the lowly door. 

This is heaven's security — its simplicity is overlooked by the 
wise — while the meek and lowly of heart enter its door, and 
enjoy its peace unmolested. 

Thy portion of heaven is within thee. 

The enjoyment of all wisdom and all love is within thee. 
Thy understanding is surely not afar off. Thy thoughts can 
fly through the universe with the speed of inward light, but if 
they gather only material truths thou wilt receive no lasting 
happiness from them. 

All of man's most ingenious inventions fall short of render- 
ing happiness visible. He cannot find it among the stars, or 
among the flowers and trees of earth. It is not in books ; it is 
not written or spoken : it is simply felt. 



THE HEALING OP THE NATIONS. 341 

God's voice liveth and life cannot be seen. Thou art on 
earth to learn its truths, not to get happiness from it. Earth 
cannot get into heaven, for it hath no comprehension. Heaven 
gets into earth in thee. The truths which thou dost learn of 
earth, lose all matter when they become imbedded in thy spir- 
itual nature. 

The animals will live and thrive on the same food as thou ; 
but the food does not stimulate their brain to the production 
of bright and beautiful thoughts, for the spirit of God is not in 
them ; it simply produces animal happiness in satisfaction. If 
the spirit of God were in them, then would the life of happi- 
ness dwell in them also. 

Therefore, do not attempt to create happiness out of matter, 
for it is nowhere in it. If thou would erect an outward temple, 
would thou take spiritual truths ? Then, if thou would create 
happiness, would thou take outward stones ? 

Heaven, like all else, is chaos unto thee until the voice of 
understanding move upon its surface. Do not think God hath 
great affinity for ignorance. Outward light brought forth out- 
ward order, inward light bringeth forth inward order. 

When his light shineth in thee, behold thou can command 
and the solid land shall dwell under thy feet. See the glory 
of this truth — all outward beneath thee — and the waters of love 
shall gush from many fountains, to refresh thee. 

Then all things which come forth upon the land of truth or 
in the waters of love, shall sing one holy anthem of happiness. 
Create thy own happiness by doing and seeking after those 
things which God's inward light alone doth make manifest. 
Thou must do. No man's experience can give thee joy. 

Every man hath his own universe. Is there not room ? How 
big art thou ? Remember well all of earth dwelleth on earth 
forever. Thy body is thy outward universe, and thy spirit is 
the center of thy inward universe, in harmony with God, the 
center of every spirit. 

Thou art not finished, therefore do not stop and dwell in idle- 
ness, but push on in the path of humility after wisdom. Every 
power in thee is progressive, even thy power of progressing. 
Thou cannot stop without loss, and thou cannot wear out with 
going. 



342 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

In thy spiritual machinery there is no friction, neither rust, 
nor yet decay. Every gift which cometh with thy spirit is 
perfect, but as thou art unfinished, the perfection is unknown 
to thee save as thou can comprehend it. That which thy 
Father hath done, thy spirit can learn through the channels in 
which his power flows. 

Would thou ask a stone who made it ? Wisdom doth not 
dwell in anything visible. The printing press cannot think. 
Thy mental powers are simply purified and refined earths from 
which and through which thy spirit draws knowledge even as 
the outward chemist. 

Cultivate that power of discernment within thee which is 
above all of thee which can perish, thy own conscience of all 
things which is thy safeguard against wrong, and thy stay and 
strength in well-doing. 

Reason is an extract of matter ; conscience is an extract of 
spirit. Reason regulates outward responsibility, conscience 
regulates inward responsibility. Reason is subject unto law, 
conscience is subject unto God. 

Reason may go astray, conscience never can. 

When stopping in the temple of reason, conscience standeth 
without trembling lest thou fall. Reason is a noble gift and 
proof of manhood. It is as a fire, or rather a crucible, into 
which all truths are put for analysis, and if the spiritual fire be 
applied refinement must ensue. 

Man hath no gift but what is noble and helps toward happi- 
ness if he be true unto himself. If thou art true unto thyself, 
thou art true unto God and unto man. 

Truth is everywhere and in all things ; the understanding of 
it is in God and man. When reason gathers truths, conscience 
weighs them. If they be not pure, not congenial unto that 
conscience, it rejects them. If they fit it properly, they are 
stored away as the treasure of the spirit in which the conscience 
dwells. 

There is more truth visible to the inward man than to the 
outward man. If thou dwell in harmony with the essence of 
truth, thou can learn far more than when in harmony only with 
effects. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 343 

Thou may fulfill all the requirements of all outward laws, 
both natural and moral, and still not reap happiness therefrom. 
Spiritual labor bringeth spiritual reward. Outward reward can 
be taken away, but in inward things reward is between God and 
thee, and no being can interfere therewith. 

If thy own conscience approve thee, no man can condemn 
thee. All spiritual strength cometh from a conscience that 
thou art well-doing. If thou feel clear and thy path is straight 
before thee, walk on. There are a great many turns and a 
great many pointing out new roads, but the road to heaven is 
the path of well-doing. 

Heaven is not afar off, and it hath no opposite save within 
thyself. Thou will never have any pleasure in a distant heaven. 
The Father dwelleth in thee and there is no heaven devoid of 
his presence. The highest truth thou can receive he giveth thee. 

No great good hath ever come to man save from the Father's 
hand. He doeth unto man as he would man should do unto 
his brother man. Pure goodness is above all law, for law 
is effect of goodness. Man is not yet perfect, as every man 
knoweth. 

As thou dost earn so is it given unto thee, for as thou dost 
labor so is thy capacity to receive increased. How simple, how 
plain the path of duty — art thou in it ? Dost thou listen and 
then obey ? The simplicity of truth hides it from the wise and 
reveals it unto the lowly. 

The wise man seeketh for the father in his own household, 
not afar off. Thy heavenly Father is here, not there. He is 
in thee now. This is his time. He is present, past, and future, 
for in him is perfection. 

Learn to live with him. Thou cannot truly live without him. 
Thou requirest but little food and little raiment of earth. Of 
Him thou must receive all which endureth. Wisdom does not 
grow on earth. It is nourished by holy waters, and if thou 
would drink thereof, keep down in the path of humility. 

The Father has no slaves ; but is not humility becoming in 
imperfection ? Humility cannot fall, pride cannot stand. 
Humility digs deep, pride climbs high. Humility hath a solid 
foundation, pride floweth on the surface. 



344 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Humility is never hypocrisy. It is simply an open willing- 
ness to receive those little truths which come directly from the 
Father. It never dictates what shall come, but thankfully re- 
ceives that which is given. It hath affinity for honesty and is 
not easily deceived. It is worth more to the spirit of man than 
all the earth. 

God's goodness is not obtrusive, thou can reject his wisdom 
and the happiness it would bring thee. Not that thou art 
greater than he is, but that he is willing thou should learn all 
things from thy own experience of them. 

Let thy love be chastened with humility, and thy wisdom will 
be unpresuming. Thou cannot dwell so lowly that the Father's 
love cannot find thee. 

Patience groweth out of humility. Eternal life need never 
haste. If God's will is not manifest — wait. And as thou art 
waiting — watch. 

Guard thy treasure from thyself. No man can take thine 
away, yet thou can lose it by carelessness. Dwell in love and 
peace will be with thee. 

The Father's love giveth confidence. All who know his love 
have confidence in its strength. There is no strength for the 
spirit of man save that which dwells in wisdom and love. There 
is no progress save in these, and no happiness save^that which 
cometh from them. 

The earth will easily clothe and feed thy body, and this is 
all it can do; therefore let not thy thoughts dwell too much on 
the earth, for it is unworthy of them. But rather let thy spirit 
partake of the fruits of wisdom and the joy of love continually. 
Why should thou, an immortal being, cling unto things which 
the more thou lovest them the more do harm thee ? Do not 
look forward nor yet backward, but now, at this time, let thy 
enjoyment be. 

God is the eternal present ; be thou at all times with him. 
There is a state of being in which a man can dwell above all 
the earth. Conquer thy cares. God is the great burden bearer. 
That which will break thy strength will never bend his. All 
things were made in love and by love can all things be borne. 
If thy burdens be of earth, cast them down ; let them not 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 345 

defile thee. If they be spiritual, is not thy Father near ? Go to 
him. In his lessons thou gainest wisdom, and for this gain thou 
must lose the earth. If full thou cannot eat, if warm thou 
needst no clothing. He does not feed the full nor clothe the 
warm, but unto the hungry and cold he cometh because they 
alone can appreciate his gift. 

If thou do not want he will not give. 

Let thy thoughts dwell on his goodness ; let them search for 
his goodness and in it they will find food which lasteth. Walk 
firmly on as the light guideth. Bring thy will into entire sub- 
jection unto the will divine, and thy actions will be in unison 
with him. 

Thou should not be separated from thy Father. Better to 
dwell with him continually. To know of this dwelling in the 
eternal presence^thou must have pure wisdom. Wisdom is never 
noisy, it is silent and given to reflection. The shallow streams 
with dangerous bottoms are noisy. They dash along with such 
speed that the still, small voice of eternal wisdom is drowned. 

Better know one truth than mountains of sophistry. Oh 
learn of God's goodness around thee. Eternal lessons are 
round about thee, #nd thou must search and find them, for 
thus only can they become thine — become thee. 

All thou art or can be is derived from God's truth. Do be- 
lieve this and strive to leave all unworthy things behind thee. 
Thou dost begin labor on earth, but it is never finished. As 
thou dost earn so is thy reward, and unto him who labors in 
darkness is darkness given. 

Justice grows from seeds of love. The Father's love is per- 
fect and in it is justice, and mercy dwells there also. If thou 
earn unhappiness, it shall be thine. Mercy never interferes 
with justice. Love never doth harm ; but do not confound love 
with selfishness. Love never turneth aside from holiness, but 
selfishness seeketh the gratification of its own. 

God loveth all and in this love is perfect justice given unto 
all. He is pure. In him is no selfishness. Do not imagine 
he hath favorites and that thou art one, and that he will not 
be just unto thee. Thou will never receive more than thou dost 
earn, neither less. He is not a hard master, for all who labor 
23 



346 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

for him perform tasks of love, and in the love comes their just 
reward. 

Thou cannot alter him by entreaty, for he is perfect and can- 
not change ; therefore, alter thyself until thou art right, and 
then wilt thou find justice to be one of his noble attributes. 

Justice desireth no more than its own. On earth it maketh 
man to do as he would be done unto. It is the great balance. 
It pays every honest demand. When love forgets justice, then 
does love cease to be. The nearer pure thy love becomes, the 
greater will be thy justice. 

Thou did in the beginning come from the Father ; take up 
thy stan° and journey onward toward him. Thy being is as 
part of a circle, as thou dost progress the ends come nearer 
together. When they meet, then art thou a just man rendered 
perfect by faithfulness. 

Thus is heaven, the home of happiness, crossed and divided, 
as it were, by countless orbits in which move the children of 
God. Each one keeping strictly to his own path, and all being 
unable to get in a brother's way. Even as the outward bodies 
of the universe keep to their course, each one giving out its own 
portion of light, so do the just children o£ God perform their 
varied duties. 

A great many keep themselves back either by envying their 
brethren or by imitating them. If thou leave thy path and go 
to a brother to be carried, he may carry thee very easily if he 
be strong, but thy progress ceases as soon as he accept thy 
burden. 

Keep thyself pure. Let holiness dwell in thee. Be just 
unto thy Father, and he will be just unto thee. When thou 
dost love him and thy brother man, thou dost earn his love. 
When thou lovest man, in the love cometh back to thee pleasure 
which is fruit of his love. 

Love must flow like a river, or the fountain, the bubbling 
spring and running brook, will become parched and dry. The 
stream floweth out unto the sea. Light and heat shine upon it, 
and it arises and rides upon the wind to the mountains, again 
to descend in plentiful showers and replenish the fountains. 

Justice balances the sea. If thou drink of God's love, thou 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 347 

must cast upon the waters of the sea thy bread of life. Thou 
must pay for every draught. The Father pays every laborer. 

The mountains of truth rise high, and the waters of love 
dwell deep. 

The light of wisdom shines upon the mountains and plains, 
and life springs into existence. It thirsteth, and the light shines 
upon the waters and they arise and go unto the life and impart 
their strength. 

Keep thy waters clear that the light can penetrate thy in- 
most depths and find no impurities. 

There is no end which thou can find. Thy mind is in the 
image of the divine mind. Light produceth life. When God's 
light doth penetrate thee, thou dost live and thy love being 
purified floweth out unto all. 

This love cometh back unto thy spirit, refreshes thee, be- 
comes imbedded in thy eternal nature, and in the end thou dost 
take it unto the Father. Thus is the fountain, the source of 
all good, replenished. Thus is nothing wasted. 

Behold the beauty of perfection. All things work together 
for good. All which thou dost receive from him doth benefit 
thee. If thou wilt not receive, thou cannot waste. And thou 
dost unto him return laden with his goodness which through 
thy faithfulness hath become thine. 

Thus art thou elevated, and thus dost thou give living glory 
and truthful praise unto God. There is no praise which man 
can bestow upon perfection save that which he doth make 
manifest in his goodness unto man. 

Thy voice cannot praise him save in kind, good counsel unto 
thy brother. 

If thou would praise God, become worthy of his praise. Live 
thy praise, do not speak it. All men have faith in actions. If 
they see thee doing good they know thou art praising God — 
thou need not tell them. The Father hath a witness in every 
child he hath created. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

AND HERE IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 

Thus behold the stream of divine life flowing down from 
Jehovah and nourishing his children. In their strength cometh 
his reward. They arise and journey back unto him. 

Need thou speak unto man to praise God? Surely the 
voice of the flower is as sweet as thine, and the same air pro- 
duces both. 

Aspire after true nobility of character. Dwell continually 
in harmony with that high and holy guide within thee. The 
spirit of God quickeneth thy spirit into new life, and thou dost 
see new fields of thought and action. 

As no earthly power can reveal unto thee the extent of space 
or all the inhabitants thereof, neither can any heavenly power 
save the Father reveal unto thy spirit the beauties of righteous- 
ness. 

A good character, a true man, makes more light in heaven 
than does the sun on earth. His rays mingle with the divine 
light and penetrate all things. God's light shineth inside, 
quickening the center. If the center be rightly moved the 
whole body must progress. 

There is no true progress if God be not in the center. There 
is no holy desire but what springs from him. Of thyself thou 
cannot rise. The earth gets not above its own. 

Truth and goodness exalt thee. Let no fear of man enter 
thy household. Get thee filled with the love of God and all 
unholy things will be cast out. Where God dwells there is no 
room for aught else. 

When he fills thou art full indeed. How plain ! how easy thy 
highest duty ! Bear love toward God and man. The universe, 
the vast expanse which is vacant space to outward vision is 
transparent love. It is clear and pure, and light dwells every- 
where. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 349 

This love is the pure atmosphere of divinity. It is living 
happiness, and when a soul opens its doors the life flows in and 
takes up its abode. 

Behold the beauty and divine simplicity of God's plan. 
Thou art incased in the earth to have wisdom's first lesson 
instilled into thy being. Thou hast easy lessons at the begin- 
ning, and if true unto thy inward light all thy lessons will be 
easy forever. 

It is the wisdom taught by transgression which is hard and 
brings pain. The lessons of love are easily borne and bring 
happiness. 

How happy, how loving, and how trusting the spirit of the 
little child ! The great love of the Father floweth into its 
being and cometh out in smiles and tones of happiness. It 
knoweth the right. It loveth the truth, and mercy and charity 
control its judgment. 

Blessed is the one who can keep unto the end, through all 
life's battle^, this trusting, child-like spirit. Blessed is he who 
can gather unto his own spirit the fruits of love and not scatter 
them. 

There is no point of transgression which is beyond God's 
love, but pain is born of transgression ; and surely the way of 
the transgressor is hard. 

Seek to know thy duty and then humbly strive to do it. 
Thy duty is thine and no other man is responsible for it. It is 
rendered plain by thy own light and thou alone can see and do it. 

Thus let every man first know the right and then do it, and 
God's will will be done on earth, and earth will enter heaven. 
Thou son of God, let not the earth defile thee. Let the divine 
light shine upon thy forehead and every act shall glorify thy 
Father. 

Seek only those things which bring peace unto thy soul. 
Justice holds her scales within thee and thou can weigh all 
things. Truth furnishes weights and light giveth judgment. 

Oh, Father ! thou alone can quicken our understanding and 
guide us unto labor. All is barren where thou art not, and all 
rich where thou art. Let us daily labor for daily bread. Stay 
and strengthen us, for thou knowest our many weaknesses. 



350 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Thou art, oh man ! From him thou came and unto him thou 
must return. If thou art empty he is not less, but thou art. 
If full of earth, happiness will have no room in thee. If full of 
wisdom and love, thou hast a heavenly load and can go whither- 
soever thou wilt. 

If full of earth, thou art empty in heaven. If full of heaven, 
the earth hath no place in thee. 

Wisdom and love center in thy being. God gave thee 
capacity to receive them and powers to test them with. Thou 
art his child. He is eternal. If true unto thyself, thou will 
partake of these eternal essences and let thy manhood become 
godlike in its nobility. 

Thou need take nothing for truth which thou cannot under- 
stand, for it is only through understanding of truth that eleva- 
tion cometh. There are truths which are self-evident, and these 
are always greatest and purest. Reason cannot prove pure truth, 
for truth is above reason. It is God's light in the spirit which 
revealeth those great truths which are so plain they*are termed 
self-evident. 

All truths are self-evident unto him, for all wisdom is his. 
All things to him are very good, for he is perfect good. Truths 
which emanate from perfect goodness require no proof. The 
purest truth man can receive reason cannot explain or unaided 
comprehend. In all things connected with earth reason hath 
a field of labor noble and good. 

Those truths which God reveals unto the spirit reason can- 
not comprehend. They are children of light, and in the light 
alone can they be seen and understood. He reveals nothing 
in darkness. 

Light makes manifest, darkness obscureth. When light 
comes unto the spirit, those things which are unholy hide away. 
Light hath no affinity for evil. It guideth unto holiness, it 
leadeth unto God. 

All things beautiful come forth in light. As outward light 
maketh earth to bloom as a lovely garden, so doth inward light 
make heavenly gardens in the pure atmosphere of Deity. The 
spirit-land glows in the light of his presence. 

Thus doth all thought seek inward and cluster around the 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 351 

fountain. Light fills the spirit with thought, and thought fills 
the intellect with reason. Light has judgment. It can weigh 
and approve or condemn according as each do merit. 

Light giveth ideas, reason explains them. An idea is con- 
densed thought. An idea is one of God's thoughts. Thou can 
receive it and reason will explain or diffuse it unto others. 

Seek these ideas, these truths which astound thee with their 
great simplicity. God hath nothing to lose. Thou cannot 
make him less. Thou cannot obscure his goodness. Thou can 
simply reveal thyself. 

Thou cannot enter heaven as the bird soareth through the 
air. Heaven or happiness is a reward — a reality. Thou need 
not clothe it in mystery. It is truth understood. So far as 
thou dost comprehend truth, that far art thou in heaven, and 
heaven in thee, that far art thou in the Father and he in thee. 

Noble actions, pure thoughts and good counsel and charitable 
judgment, all dwell in heaven; all arise from goodness and pro- 
duce happiness. 

The highest powers of thy intellect will not put thee so far 
in heaven as the lowest power of love. Through love all good- 
ness and all happiness came into the world. When God hath 
given good men high and holy ideas, pure truths, from his own 
mind, then their intellectual powers have in a measure become 
his servants, through which he communicated with the outward 
world. 

Where pure love dwells there is the kingdom of heaven. Thou 
art continually near unto the Father, dost thou know it? Dost 
thou feel his presence ? If thou know him to be near thee and 
can feel the influence of his holy spirit, then thou need seek no 
further for heaven. 

Let thy ideas be derived from his light in thy soul, and heaven 
will lose all mystery. Thou art a rational being, and no truth 
can benefit thee thoroughly, save as thou dost understand it. 
Thou cannot worship God in mystery. Only in the clear light 
of day can thou make manifest his will. 

There is no mystery in active goodness, which is true worship. 

What thou cannot see in heaven no man can show thee. The 
happiness thou dost not feel is not thine. Wrap nothing up 



352 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

to hide it, but receive openly and freely as it is given. The 
Father's presence is manifested in pure light, and those things 
which are seen when he is near, are heavenly truths. 

Thou hast a work, to do. God hath use for all true men. 
Clear his path before him. Rend those mysterious garments, 
those clouds which have been placed by man around his pure 
truth. God's truth hath no need of clothing. It is most lovely 
in its holy simplicity. 

Turn all men inward. Shake them loose from all forms 
which in the least hinder their spiritual freedom. Truth can 
stand alone. Wisdom hath no need of an interpreter. In 
love's chain every link is goodness, and it bindeth happiness 
unto the soul of man. 

If any man cannot render his idea plain and clear unto thy 
understanding, thou had better seek elsewhere, for it is evident 
he cannot carry thee. And if thou cannot render clear that 
which is given, let it remain at home, for it will do no good 
abroad. 

Thou cannot force God's truth or alter the course of his 
wisdom. Therefore if thou cannot command, strive to serve 
faithfully. Thou came from the beginning, and truth alone 
doth enlarge thy being. The ladder which reaches from earth 
to heaven is truth. 

Thou clost go to the Father in precisely the same channel in 
which he comes to thee. This channel is hidden from the view 
of all save him and thee. Going to heaven is individual work. 
A thousand men may agree to go to heaven in a certain form, 
but the form remains on earth, and each one goes his own road 
or goes not at all. 

Happiness is between God and man. No man can make thee 
unhappy if thou be true unto the Father. Thy flesh may be 
tortured, but there is great difference between pain and un- 
happiness. Pain may come from another, but unhappiness 
cometh from thyself. 

Happiness requireth but little room. Thou art large enough 
to hold all happiness which can be of use unto thee. The 
kingdom of heaven dwelleth in thee. If it be not within thee, 
thou will not find it elsewhere. It is within thee, because all 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 353 

truth and love and happiness are within. They never dwell in 
the inanimate. Outward things flow from them, but they are 
never derived from the outward. 

The works of thy hand glorify thee, yet are they infinitely 
below thee. The outward works of our Father's hand are 
beautiful indeed, if we are. All the earth blooms as an Eden, 
if we be pure and our eyes see in the right light. If we be 
impure, behold how dull and lifeless all purity becometh. 

Oh, Father, thou knowest how little we are and how pre- 
sumptuous. Guide us in the light which deceiveth not. Let 
us become spiritual children of thine, willing to receive thy 
lessons as they be given. Guide us into the right field and 
direct us in them for thou knowest better than we what is best for 
us to do. 

Let humility be exalted in thee, oh man ! for truly it is a 
great virtue. The bended knee and bowed head are not 
humility. Thou cannot thus deceive thyself; tempt not thy 
Father. Humility which exalteth, dwells in the spirit, and is 
created by wisdom, for no man is humble until he knows his 
own nothingness. 

Seek not here and there for wisdom ; God is creator of wis- 
dom, go thou to him, and if thou be truly empty of self, wisdom 
will be given thee. And do not expect too much. Thou wilt 
always understand God's gifts. He giveth no doubts, always 
certain truth. 

And thus can thou know — in his light there is no uncertainty. 
If uncertain, be still, for he is not an uncertain being. Wis- 
dom carrieth its own satisfaction. That which the Father com- 
mands is as plain as the outward sun at noonday. 

Every man hath experience, which is between him and his 
Father alone. It cannot be revealed unto another. Spiritual 
words cannot be heard by outward ears. 

The soul of man alone can praise God. It alone can sing 
acceptable praise. It alone can ask and receive, can knock 
and be opened unto. In the soul of man dwells the spirit of 
all truth, and the essence of all love. 

Let nothing stand in the way of thy own elevation. Let no 
earthly consideration come between thee and divine wisdom. 



354 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Keep this passage open and clear, and it will lighten thy daily 
labor far more than the help of outward hands, for it will raise 
thee above the burden. 

Through this passage cometh that strength which sustaineth 
in well-doing, and giveth strength in righteousness. It giveth 
power to overcome temptation, and also bringeth unto man his 
just reward. All of this is within thee, where no one can see 
or hear, save him who hath opened the passage. 

The Father does clothe his children. The mind and body 
are the outer garments of the soul, and still within the soul is 
that little eternal part of him which insureth immortality. 
This part is in unison with all wisdom, and hath knowledge of 
right and wrong. 

Separate from God there is no immortality. In his great 
goodness he gave unto man all power, save creation and anni- 
hilation. These powers himself controlleth. All is vacant 
which wisdom doth not fill. 

Thou can only learn immortal truths from him. Heaven 
is only the state of feeling which cometh in the wisdom that 
revealeth eternal love unto the spirit of man. Man doth in- 
herit heaven. It is his. God did make it for him, for he alone, 
of all the works of the divine mind and hand, can compre- 
hend it. 

Man alone can build a realm and people a city with truths 
that are immaterial. He alone doth reap his high and holy 
enjoyments in worlds unseen, and from tones unheard, and 
from feelings too refined for the vibrating of outward nerves. 

And all is heaven where God is. And all is man's when he 
dwells with the Father. Let no mystery envelop these truths. 
Stand by the light within thee, for it alone is the pathway unto 
heaven. 

The voice of all mankind cannot raise one in the divine 
sight. Divine light alone can lead thee into perfect day. In 
the light are not all things clear ? 

If thou hast no light within thee, the outward light will never 
reveal happiness unto thee. And if thou hast light within 
thee, darkness will never retard thy progress. 

God's love hath flowed downward unto man. It has filled 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 355 

him full, and he hath given of his abundance unto his brother. 
Each one bears his own fruit, even as the trees of a garden, 
and each can give unto and receive from others good fruit. 

In all things is God's goodness manifest, but, oh man, the 
light of true wisdom alone can reveal the goodness. Are things 
beautiful thou cannot see, or sweet thou cannot taste ? The 
light must shine in thee, and love dwell in thy spirit, or thou 
will have no pure enjoyment. 

Divest thyself of unholy desires. Seek the Father's help. 
Would thou not help thy own child in well-doing ? And art 
thou greater than he ? Above and beyond thy highest con- 
ception of holiness is the Father. He hath myriad children, 
yet knoweth every one, and supplieth every want. 

All thou can do he knoweth. What thou will do thyself 
must bear the fruit. He hath no fear of thee, but boundless 
love for thee. Thou art dropped, as it were, in a vast sea of 
wisdom. Love surrounds thee, and light shineth overhead. 
There is no shore thou can find, and no bottom. Collect unto 
thyself and into thyself, the holy waters of truth, and thou 
wilt grow and bring forth fruit acceptable. 

Let thy idea of heaven be rational. Earth doth not exist 
without a cause, neither can heaven. Thy heaven is fruit grown 
from thy earth. Doing thy duty on earth gives thee enjoy- 
ment which is heaven. Do not look beyond the gate of death 
for all thy pleasure. 

Thy heavenly life is progressive, even as thy life on earth. 
Thou art eternally progressive. Thou art not capable of eter- 
nal retrogression. There is no such thing known in God's 
goodness. As progression leadeth unto the perfect filling of 
thy destiny, so would retrogression lead unto thy own annihila- 
tion. 

Ere thou can annihilate thyself thou must create thyself, for 
no one can annihilate that which he cannot create. God's 
goodness ruleth the universe. All ideas which conflict with 
perfect love, perfect wisdom, and perfect truth, are false, and 
can do man no good. 

With life came thy free will. Didst possess a will before 
thou wert born ? Thy whole being is fruit of the Father's 



356 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

goodness. Can thou deduce from this goodness a power which 
is greater than the goodness ? Can thou take from anything 
more than there is ? How then can thou so far retrograde as 
to destroy all goodness in thee, and thus cease to be ? 

Thou can gather wisdom from thorns and thistles, but that 
gathered from roses and lilies is sweeter. 

Thou can learn from suffering, but that which cometh in hap- 
piness is more acceptable. Thou can suffer despairingly, but 
hoping trustfully is far better. 

The Father, in his all-seeing and all-knowing goodness, 
hedged in thy free will with opposite truths. In the straight 
line unto holiness, all is pleasant and peaceful, but thou art not 
perfect, and must learn the road. 

If thou go astray a thorn will prick thee, if thou find a rose 
it is sweet. Thou art not a straw that can float into heaven 
upon the rising tide, but a man, the son of God, and thou must 
do thy passage there. 

Truth is everywhere, but happiness is extracted from God's 
love. All love is God's love. It fills all things. When thy 
will comes in contact with his will, truth and love are against 
thee. Truth will scourge thee outwardly, and love inwardly, 
and from their operation thou wilt learn wisdom. 

Blessed are they which profit from their own transgressions. 

If thou will do that which thou knowest to be not right, the 
higher powers of thy being are against thee, and so is the 
whole universe. 

Yet all cannot destroy thee — thou art, thou dost exist, a 
living combination of truths. Do what thou will thou can only 
illustrate God's goodness and mercy, and thy own weakness. 

The glory of God dwells within himself. Thou can glorify 
thyself by being true unto his wisdom within thee. Thou can 
in nowise alter his law, which is love. Thou can receive all 
thou will hold at any time. The doors of heaven are open 
wide, and if thou cannot find them, blame only thy own blind- 
ness. 

Do thy own duty as thou knowest it to be. Little by little 
dost thou grow in holy manhood. Little by little doth wisdom 
expand within thee. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 357 

The Father's truths are all practical, and thou can only col- 
lect those that fit and fill thy being. How beautiful this divine 
arrangement. Each one true unto God, yet all different. All 
gathering truths in the Father's garden, yet each one satisfied 
with his own. 

If thou know that in God's wisdom alone cometh understand- 
ing, and in his love alone cometh happiness, and in thy simple 
faithfulness unto his light within thee alone cometh thy power 
of receiving understanding, and happiness ; if thou know these 
truths, thou hast learned the great lessons of earth. 

Be thou true unto thyself. The breath of man is in his nos- 
trils, but the breath of God sustaineth eternal life. No matter 
what man may say or do, thou alone dost do thy own work. 
It is thy work, rendered so by the will of God, proven within 
thee, and no one else can do it. 

Every child of God hath work to do. Man is his great out- 
let on earth. Through man his love and his light flow. Man 
hath the only spirit on earth. In him alone can holy inspiration 
dwell. In him alone doth the Father's spirit hold communion. 

Oh, how high and holy is man's true pathway. Above all 
things earthly, side by side with his Father. The Father's 
path leadeth down unto the son, and the son's path leadeth 
up to the Father. 

Keep in true simplicity. Love presumeth not. Holiness 
and peace dwell together. Keep down thy selfish nature. 
Thou can only learn of wisdom by seeking in humility. 

How few are thy real wants. In wisdom, love, holiness, 
and happiness, the Father instructs thee. Of the earth thy 
body receiveth food and raiment. What else dost thou want ? 

True health of the body requireth simple food and warm 
clothing. When the earth hath given this thou need ask of it 
no more. 

True health of thy soul cometh equally in simple food and 
good clothing. Truths fill thy being, and surround it, and from 
these truths thou dost select food, and from the extract of the 
food cometh wisdom. There is no food for the human soul in 
sophistry or mystery — in eternal truth alone is food which can 
nourish the soul of man. 



358 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Go not out into outward things after enjoyment. Get right 
thyself, and all will be pleasant unto thee. Do not expect too 
much, thou art far from perfect, but, if thou do humbly desire 
to do right, thou will never seriously obstruct the divine will. 

As thy body grows from daily food and daily labor, so must 
thy inner eternal being. Let thy labor be healthful. Eat no 
more than thou can digest. Let thy inner life be drawn by 
thy own labor, from the great fountain of life, and never think 
another can draw for thee, or thou for another. 

If thou do not go thou cannot receive. 

All of God's gifts are good. All of his food is sweet ; enter 
thou in and receive thy share. Art thou full ? thou will go 
hungering away ; art thou empty ? thou will be filled to over- 
flowing. Blessed are the empty, for they shall be filled. 

Labor in the truth, give all thou hast away. That which is 
given thee give thou unto man, and thou shall receive two- 
fold. It is not in hoarding but in scattering love, that happi- 
ness cometh. 

The pathway of the true man is ever fruitful. Around him 
he scatters good little acts, little kindnesses through which his 
Father's hand is seen. Blessings follow him on earth and pre- 
cede him in heaven. 

He who weighs all earthly considerations in the eternal 
balance will find them of little worth. Thou must shape thy 
course rightly. Do nothing to-day thou will wish undone to- 
morrow. Time is the stairway unto heaven. Let every step 
be forward in truth. Have one foot in time, the other reach- 
ing beyond. 

Let no man ask, who is God ? for none can tell. All men 
know in themselves, that in moments of suffering a balm hath 
been poured upon their soul, which healeth its pain. All we 
can know of God is manifest in ourselves, for we are his high- 
est witnesses on earth. 

The first impulse of the human spirit is good. This is the 
flashing of divine light in the soul, first, quickest, and greatest 
of all things. Earthly considerations come after, and if not 
hindered, retard, obstruct, and finally put out the light. 

Keep down in true simplicity, that this eternal light may 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 359 

quickly enter and fill thy being, for herein cometh food of 
eternal life. Thy spirit is not self-supportive. It must live, 
for God gave it eternal life ; but, to grow, it must earn and 
receive the food provided. 

And the food of the spirit of man cometh in these flashes of 
light, these inspirations of divinity. They fill the mind with 
pure thoughts, and the spirit with happiness, above and beyond 
all the earth can give. 

The inspiring of divine light giveth strength unto the spirit, 
which quickens the intellectual powers of the mind, and pure 
thoughts are generated from its action. Pure promptings end 
in good actions. 

Divine light thus flows into the tongue and hand of man, and 
they become God's servants on earth, the one proclaiming and 
the other doing his will. 

Behold how the outward light quickens the action of outward 
nature. In the bright morning all things seem rising into new 
life and new joy. In the action of the outward behold the proof 
of the eternal harmony within. 

Love dwelleth in light. Divine wisdom and divine love are 
the Father's strong cords, with which he binds his children 
together, and all unto him. Light knoweth and love doeth. 
The Father's will is manifested in love. 

Light shall teach the true way, and love shall heal the 
wounds of the cross. Purity shall flow from their union. God's 
light shall reveal all truth, and his love give life to all feeling. 

These pure essences, flowing, as it were, as a river from the 
foot of the throne of God, shall penetrate all nations of the 
earth, and they who drink thereof shall be healed. 

Blessed are they who are satisfied with truth in its own hal- 
lowed purity. 

Blessed are they upon whom divine wisdom descendeth. 

Blessed are they who dwell in love, desiring only good. 

We are weak, but the Father's will is plain. Work only in 
the light, let love govern all action, and goodness must result. 

Do that which is plain and clear before thee. If the Father 
hath need of thee, he will guide thy action. His work de- 
pends not on thee, but thine on him. 



360 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Thou hast one duty, listen and be patient. Better wait a 
thousand years for hiin than move without him. 

Get thee down and begin rightly. Take no steps in dark- 
ness. Light leadeth forward and points the way in all well- 
doing, while love rewardeth. 

The end and aim of all wisdom is goodness. No man is wise 
who is not in the same proportion good. 

Outward wisdom, emanating from the light of nature, result- 
ing from the good effects of the almighty hand, is pleasing and 
useful in the outward, but in it there is no eternal strength for 
the human spirit. 

Thou may know all things that outward light maketh mani- 
fest, and without thy inward light thou art an hopeless outcast. 
All things outward point toward eternal life, but give no proof. 
The material cannot prove the immaterial. All consciousness 
of immortality comes in thy spiritual affinity unto deity. 

The spirit alone can know eternal life. When thou leavest 
the earth, outward light giveth place unto inward light, if thou 
hast been true unto thy own higher nature. Thy brain is the 
highest extract of matter, and is quickened by the highest 
outward influence in nature, and yet thou art far from 
being the son of God, if thou hast never felt his spirit within 
thee. 

When his spirit dwells in thee thou art freed from earth, for 
thou ca,n have access unto all truth, which is in him, and by 
his presence is manifested. Let man first secure spiritual free- 
dom, and all else will follow. 

Seek thy Father's counsel continually. His power is un- 
limited, and his resources unbounded. Dost thou doubt this ? 
Behold the great scope of thy own little mind, and say what 
must be the power of that which makes, quickens, and refines 
all mind ! 

Whatsoever thou doest let it be in humility. What hast thou 
to presume upon ? The more thou knowest the more dost thou 
find to know, and thus will it ever be. 

The Father works continually, and the fruit of his work 
feeds his children. Do thou strive to enter farther and farther 
into those pure worlds, where every thought giveth happiness 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 361 

and every vision joy. Strive to elate thy own soul. Strive to 
live in harmony with the one which is all. 

Remember how few wants thy outward nature really has. 
The Father did not make flesh to hinder thee, but to help thee 
onward in wisdom. Thou cannot gather eternal happiness 
from anything thy outward nature desires, and thou surely 
knowest all must leave thee at death. 

Therefore, turn thou inward and journey toward the Father. 
He is in all truth, but in those immortal, imperishable truths, 
which the divine light within thee revealeth, are his holiest 
witnesses found. 

The holiest' wisdom giveth purest happiness, for love is wis- 
dom's life. That sweet feeling which filleth thy spirit when 
the Father's voice hath spoken a word in thee, is his love which 
fiWeth in the wisdom the word revealeth. In wisdom's chan- 
nel love floweth. 

Let thy life become pure. Let thy path be worthy for wis- 
dom to walk in. Let thy actions prove thou art a living temple, 
illuminated by the divine lamp, whose oil is love. 

Do not say, "I am the son of God," but rather prove he is 
thy Father by the uprightness of thy life. Let others say, 
thou do. Become a living example of godliness, and thou wilt 
give true glory unto God. 

Let thy aspirations be humble and thy inspirations will be 
pure. At all times remember thy high position, and let no 
unworthy actions soil thy garments. Make no professions. If 
thou find work do it. Let thy happiness be the rest resulting 
from good labor. 

The Father's purest wisdom is hidden in simplicity. It is 
not in empty show, nor is it revealed in empty sounds. His 
will is rendered plain by the inflowing of his light, and when 
the light cometh thou knowest how to act. 

Man hath contrived many ways to work without the light, 
but all such ways lead unto darkness, and end in confusion. 

Let thy labor be for the Father, and remember his highest 

earthly field is man. Do that only which, in some manner, will 

benefit man. No matter whether he knows thy action — be thou 

the servant of the most high. Look only in thyself for reward. 

24 



362 THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 

Perfect work bringeth perfect reward. As thou dost labor 
for that divine light within thee, so shall the love in the light 
flow into thy being, and reward thee where none can hear or feel. 

Love finishes its own work and elevates its servants. Light 
shineth upon their countenance and they reflect contentment 
and peace. 

Thus hast thou learned the simplicity of holiness. Truth 
hath been rendered plain unto thee, that thou might pass it on 
to others. Blessed, indeed, are the servants of God, for hap- 
piness floweth back unto them in their every action. 

How blessed are they who labor in love, for love is the 
essence of all blessings. Learn to be a doer of God's will. 
There is no happiness so sweet as that which cometh from doing 
a good action. The kingdom of heaven is builded of good 
actions, and its inhabitants are those who live in love. 

Thus, light floweth outward from the Father. How very 
good is God. He is the life of goodness, and he purifieth all 
happiness. 

Thou hast learned truths on earth fit to store the mind of 
angels. Thou hast viewed heaven in the truths of thy own 
experience. Heavenly visions have blessed thy sight, and thou 
hast seen the eternal beauty of holiness. The Father hath 
quickened the pulses of thy inner being, and on food from his 
hand hast thou strengthened. Thou good and faithful servant, 
herein is thy reward. 

Thou knowest the living glory of God, thou hast learned it 
in thy own experience. Others may doubt, thou hast been 
shown the truth, and herein is thy reward. 

Let thy hand be at all times in readiness to do the will of 
thy heavenly Father. He hath more wisdom in store for thee. 
In the hidden depths of wisdom are gems of purest worth. 
These must be brought to the surface, and be polished, to be 
placed in the eternal crown of God's child on earth. 

The end and aim of all thy labor is the elevation of man. 
The Father loveth his children, and raiseth them above the 
earth, to a state of happiness based on eternal truth. Wisdom 
and love shall reveal their fruits, and he who eats of them shall 
know eternal life. 



THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. 363 

Rest thee and be patient. The Father worketh out his own 
glory. Thy glory and thy food is to do his will. In the end 
he shall be near thee, and his strength shall be thine. 

Peace be with thee. Joy dwell in thy household. 

In the end, as in the beginning, let all spring from, live in, 
and be governed by the will of him who is all love, all wisdom, 
and all truth, yet above all. He who is Father over all, who 
is without end, and whose beginning is within himself. Of 
whom we only know the goodness as it liveth in us. 

On earth, peace and good-will to man. Love one another. 
Thus shall be given in the highest glory unto God. 



END OF SECOND SERIES. 



Jan 21 1364 




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